In recent discussions, some Nigerian women have shared their cultural views on DNA testing and paternity. One of them, Ogochukwu Juliet Victory, stated that DNA testing is not part of their tradition. She believes that in their culture, any child born to a married woman is automatically considered the husband’s child, regardless of biological paternity.

Ogochukwu made this statement in response to a Facebook post by Chioma Onwuesi, who suggested that DNA tests should be mandatory in hospitals. Chioma’s suggestion followed a story of a man discovering that none of the three children he had raised were biologically his.

Supporting this view, another woman, Uchenna Nneka Nwigwe, explained that in her village, all children born by a woman belong to the man who paid her bride price. She further added that DNA tests are irrelevant because their culture acknowledges the husband as the father, regardless of biology.

This perspective highlights the difference between traditional beliefs and the growing influence of modern technology in understanding paternity. In many Nigerian cultures, fatherhood is defined by marriage, where the man who marries the woman and pays her bride price is regarded as the rightful father of her children. This traditional practice is still strongly upheld in many communities, contrasting with the growing trend of DNA testing in more urbanized and globalized settings.

The conversation surrounding DNA testing and paternity continues to grow, as some question how much technology should influence long-standing cultural values. While DNA testing can provide clarity on biological relationships, in some cultures like these, the social and legal bonds of marriage hold greater importance.