A Nigerian doctor has sparked conversations online after claiming that children inherit their intelligence primarily from their mothers — a statement that has left many young men rethinking their choice of a life partner.
According to him, the gene linked to intelligence is carried on the X chromosome. Since women have two X chromosomes while men have only one, he argued that children derive most of their cognitive ability from their mothers.
In his words:
“Children inherit intelligence from their mother. If you see any child that is not intelligent or not smart, blame the mother. Why do I say so? The gene for intelligence is always on the X chromosome, and women have it in abundance.”
He went on to advise unmarried men to be intentional and selective when choosing a spouse, stressing that the person you marry is essentially the person whose traits you are likely to pass on to your children.
According to him, choosing a wife based solely on physical appearance — what he referred to as “breast and yansh” — could have implications for a child’s intellectual development.
“Leave breast and yansh. Look for women with good IQ. It’s very important as a young man. Consider all these things if you want to get married,” he advised.
His comments quickly sparked reactions online. One user wrote, “Ah! I never knew intelligence comes from the mother 😳.” Another added, “Smart women are the real MVPs. Men need to wake up.”
The doctor’s remarks have since fueled debate across social media, with many agreeing that when it comes to marriage, physical attraction shouldn’t be the only factor — character and intellect matter too.
Watch the video below…
A Nigerian doctor claims that a woman should be blamed if a child is not intelligent pic.twitter.com/1GVScIj45U
— Dami’ Adenuga (@DAMIADENUGA) February 15, 2026
