Genomic Epidemiology of Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 in Ethnic Minority Populations of the Niger Delta: Implications for Precision Family Medicine

Background: Genomic factors contribute to the differential risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus across ethnic groups, and existing genomic databases underrepresent African populations, particularly ethnic minority groups in the Niger Delta. This study investigates the genomic epidemiology of type 2 diabetes in selected ethnic minority groups in Rivers, Bayelsa, and Delta States to inform precision family medicine approaches. Methodology: A case-control genomic epidemiology study enrolled 300 type 2 diabetes cases and 300 matched controls from four ethnic minority groups including Ijaw, Ogoni, Urhobo, and Isoko communities. Genotyping was performed using a customised African ancestry genome-wide association study array. Polygenic risk scores were computed and compared across ethnic groups and with available reference populations. Results: Novel single nucleotide polymorphism associations with type 2 diabetes were identified in two genes not previously linked to diabetes risk in African populations. Polygenic risk scores varied significantly across ethnic groups and did not correlate consistently with published European or East Asian scores. Conclusion: This study provides original genomic epidemiological evidence for type 2 diabetes in Niger Delta ethnic minority populations, revealing population-specific genetic architectures with implications for personalised risk stratification in family medicine. A locally anchored genetic risk database is urgently needed to advance precision primary care in Nigeria. Keywords: genomic epidemiology, type 2 diabetes, Niger Delta, ethnic minority, precision medicine