Must Read Rejoinder: Prof Lai debunk report that Nigerian women are most unfaithful

A professor of Sociology at the University of Lagos, Lai Olurode, has faulted a report purportedly released by Durex, claiming that Nigerian women are the most unfaithful in the world, describing the research methodology as being scientifically weak.

A survey conducted by condom manufacturer, Durex, in which 29,000 people in 36 countries were interviewed, ranked Nigerian women as the most unfaithful in the world.

But reacting to the report, which was on the Channels TV website on Monday, Olurode, who is also a resident electoral commissioner with the Independent National Electoral Commission, said the statistics was faulty, adding that the report was extremely unrepresentative and bias.

He explained that the survey was

too generalised, noting that this was a general problem with perspective studies. According to him, it is wrong to take a few samples from a population of about 73 million women and arrive at such general conclusion.

‘’Nigeria has a population of over 160 million and there are even more women in this population, that means we have over 70 million women. How can you now base your conclusions on that little sampling size?

“Besides, the calibre of women used for the research is also important. Probably, the researchers used prostitutes as their sample, if that is done, that is a bias sample. You can’t say Nigerian women are more promiscuous than their western counterparts. Even if you take your samples from the urban areas, it is still faulty.

“Nigerian women are some of the most hardworking women in the world and there were surveys that supported that in the past. It is also a known fact that Nigerian women are in large number in churches and mosques, all those things add up to something. We also have cultures that forbid adultery and promiscuity in our society, so the study should not be taken seriously.’’

He said that the researchers must have come with a bias and operated from the mindset that because Nigeria is seen as a corrupt country, it is a failed institution and therefore must harbour unfaithful women.

He added that the scientific basis for the study must be weak, noting that it might be good to understand the intention of the researchers and how they arrived at their conclusions.

He said, “The assertion is unacceptable. The researchers can’t be trained social scientists, it happens sometimes, some people just get funds for research and they do just anything to justify the research fund. The sample size is grossly under-represented.

“The essence of a sample size in the first instance is to meet some scientific bases. It must be scientifically chosen to enable the researcher to make some guided generalisations. When we also look at the rate of spread of sexually transmitted diseases, there are no reports that this is on the increase, Look at HIV rate for instance, it is even going down, so the survey is faulty.”

He however said Nigerians should not just dismiss the report but see it as a caution and a necessity to be more loyal and faithful in their relationships.

Also reacting to the report, an economist, Dr. Wakeel Isola, of the University of Lagos, described the report as an insult to Nigerian women. He said the report could not be true, adding that the condom manufacturer was bias.

He said the company might be trying to attract attention to itself, adding that the sample was not representative and the report not objective.

Culled-Punch


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