Twins for Health and Well-being
The Ife Behaviour Genetics (IBeGe) Project studies twins and their families to understand what shapes the wellbeing and mental health of children in Nigeria.
Twins in Yoruba Culture
Twins are celebrated as bringers of blessing. Learn why they matter in research too.
Why Twin Research
Comparing identical and non-identical twins shows how genes and environment shape children.
Children’s Mental Health
We study early signs of emotional and behavioural difficulties in young children.
Adolescent Wellbeing
We explore anxiety and depression among adolescents in Osun State.
Parents and Families
Parents are central to children’s wellbeing, so we work with both.
Take Part
Are you a twin or a parent of twins? Join our research community.
Featured Projects
Research with Nigerian twins and their families
Early Childhood Mental Health (2024–2026)
A pilot twin study with children aged 3–5 and their parents, the first of its kind in Africa.
Adolescent Anxiety and Depression (2024)
Data from 450 pairs of adolescent twins in Ile-Ife and Ilesa.
Mothers’ Perceptions of Mental Health (2023)
How mothers of young twins understand mental health and risk.
How our research helps
Understanding
By comparing identical and non-identical twins, we estimate how much genes and environment shape a child’s wellbeing, then look for the environmental factors we can act on.
Sharing what we learn
We share findings with participants and the wider community, so that parents and caregivers can use them in daily life and in policy.
Our Team
Met the IBeGe Project Team
Dr. Olakunle Oginni
(Cardiff University)
Kehinde Dorcas Ayodele
(Obafemi Awolowo University)
Margaret
(Obafemi Awolowo University)
Voices from Our Community
What it means to take part in twin research