DNA Paternity Test in Nigeria. Why Every Father Must Partake?

Fathers play an important role in their child’s wellbeing and development and establishing a bond early on has many benefits.

Paternity testing can help make sure relationships get off on the right foot by removing any doubts about the identity of a child’s father. In situations where a man is uncertain about whether he is the biological father of a child, he may be reluctant to spend time with them or contribute to their upbringing.

This can damage the chances of a positive parent-child relationship developing and cause emotional distress to both the potential father and the youngster.

At DNA Centre for Paternity Test Nigeria, we offer peace of mind paternity tests, which can end the doubts once and for all, allowing those involved to move forward knowing the truth. Getting the DNA paternity test results early on can allow fathers to bond with their biological children without ambiguity and suspicion getting in the way of their relationship.

Research from the Children’s Society claims that a father’s presence is beneficial to a child’s welfare and self esteem. The organisation’s 2009 report, A Good Childhood: Searching for values in a competitive age says: “If fathers are more closely involved with their children, other things being equal, children develop better friendships, more empathy, higher self-esteem, better life satisfaction, and higher educational achievement.”

In an ideal world, all children would know the true identity of both their parents but sadly this isn’t the case. It has been estimated that between 5% and 20% of children in Nigeria believe the wrong person is their father, although it is impossible to know the exact figure.

Paternity tests offer an accurate, cost-effective and confidential way of learning the facts. Delaying finding out the truth increases the risk that a child could bond with someone who is not their father, causing emotional trauma to both parties if they eventually discover they are not related at a later date.

Of course, it takes more than DNA to be a good father and children can develop fantastic relationships with adults who are not their biological parents. But there are good reasons to use paternity tests to discover the exact relationship between a man and his potential child even if the results would not change the way they feel about each other.

It is important for people to know their full medical history, including their family history of certain diseases and health problems. Knowing you are at risk of a hereditary disease can help ensure it is diagnosed at an early stage or increase the chances of preventing it.

Psychologists also believe that knowing your biological background is important when it comes to establishing a sense of your own identity.

Legal DNA tests, which are admissible as evidence in court cases, can be helpful in situations where families need to prove paternity to secure maintenance payments or resolve child custody issues.

However, while the truth is vital, it is important to recognise the possibility that the test results may not result in the outcome wanted by either the potential parent or the child. In some cases it may be a good idea to seek counseling to deal with the aftermath of the results.

Salami Abiodun, an expert in areas of DNA, Toxicology and Forensics is a Senior Geneticist with DNA Centre for Paternity Test Nigeria. DNA Centre is located at 73 Allen Avenue, Ikeja. Lagos. He can be reached on 07059999333 or 07059999444.