AN OVERVIEW OF THE INHERITANCE RIGHTS OF WOMEN IN NIGERIA

ABSTRACT

This paper examines the various inheritance laws in Nigeria with a view to appraise the inheritance rights of women, establishing its bias in relation to gender. It is a well-known fact that women constitute a large percentage of the Nigeria population, however, for the last few decades we have experienced a clamor for the recognition and equality on the rights of women as opposed to their male counterparts. It is observed that women are discriminated in most traditional societies as regards inheritance rights, this is irrespective of the fact that both men and women are entitled to full protection of rights and freedom as contained in the Constitution of Nigeria as well as the UN charter on Human Right, 1948.

One can easily perceive from the foregoing statements that the Nigerian woman(widow) and the girl child typically get little or nothing in comparison with their male counterparts when it comes to intestate devolution of property. This is because these customary laws exhibit an overwhelming sympathy for the male gender and has a consequence, sustain an unjust and disproportional treatment of females in Nigeria. These continued practices of these laws constitute a major obstacle to gender equally, economic empowerment of the female gender and actualization of social justice in terms of development, peace and security.

Customary law is often used in this instance and there are as many variations as there are ethnic groups in the country. As observed, inheritance rights like most rights are titled towards the make gender. This research work aims an overview of the rights of women to inherit properties under the Act and various customs in Nigeria. This work also ponders on the right of women under testate succession laws as well as international laws which have been placed to protect the rights of all women. These laws are to be enforced in all states in order to safeguard the rights of women in Nigeria as well as enhance the present state of the law protecting women rights in the country.