Mayorkun DNA test plan includes confirming paternity before accepting any future child, alongside a proposed prenuptial agreement
Nigerian singer Adewale Mayowa Emmanuel, popularly known as Mayorkun, has said he intends to conduct a DNA test before accepting any future child as his, describing the measure as necessary for his peace of mind.
Mayorkun disclosed his position during a recent appearance on the In My Opinion Podcast, where he discussed relationships, marriage, trust, paternity and his expectations for fatherhood. The episode was published in early October 2026.
The ‘Body Cheche’ singer said he had already discussed the issue with his girlfriend and told her that he wanted a prenuptial agreement before marriage, alongside a DNA test whenever she gives birth.
“I told my girlfriend we’d have to do a prenup and DNA test when she gives me a child, just to be sure. She got upset,” Mayorkun said.
According to the singer, his partner was unhappy with the proposal, but her reaction has not changed his position.
Mayorkun also revealed that he had considered conducting the DNA test without informing his partner, saying he would publicly disclose the outcome if the child turned out not to be biologically his.
“I have thought of doing the DNA test without telling her. If it is my child, no issues. If not, everybody will hear about it,” he said.
The singer further compared DNA testing with prenuptial agreements, arguing that both can provide protection and certainty before people enter or deepen marital commitments.
He said his position was about having “peace of mind”, while acknowledging that discussing DNA testing with a partner could be difficult because it may be interpreted as a question of trust.
The comments have added Mayorkun’s voice to an ongoing Nigerian conversation about paternity testing, particularly on social media, where questions around trust, fatherhood and paternity disputes have attracted considerable attention.
DNA testing is also used in Nigeria to resolve disputed biological relationships. The Lagos State DNA and Forensic Centre, established by the Lagos State Government, lists paternity disputes among the cases for which it provides forensic DNA analysis.
In January 2025, Dr Ademolu Owoyele, Managing Director of DNA-Harley and Rainbow Specialised Laboratory, called for mandatory DNA paternity testing as part of Nigeria’s birth registration process.
He told The PUNCH that 47 per cent of Nigerian men tested at his laboratory had discovered they were not the biological fathers of the children they believed were theirs, while stressing that the figure was affected by selection bias because people usually seek testing when doubts already exist.
Experts have also continued to discuss the accuracy and standards surrounding paternity testing.
In 2025, specialists cited capillary electrophoresis as a well-established method for paternity analysis, with testing capable of providing a very high degree of accuracy when properly conducted.
For Mayorkun, however, the issue is ultimately personal. He has made clear that DNA confirmation and a prenuptial agreement are conditions he intends to maintain as he considers marriage and future fatherhood.
The singer’s comments are now generating fresh debate over whether DNA testing should be treated as a routine safeguard in relationships or as a step that should only be considered when there is a specific concern about paternity.
