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August 19, 2026Open Access

Legal Protection of Women's Inheritance Rights in Nigeria: Challenges Posed by Customary Law

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Authors

COChinedu Emmanuel OkaforBEBlessing Amarachi Dr. Eze

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Overview

Legal analysis uncovers persistent gaps between judicial protections and customary inheritance practices for Nigerian women, highlighting the need for systemic enforcement and cultural reform.

Key Points

  • To examine the legal framework governing women's inheritance rights in Nigeria and evaluate the structural constraints imposed by customary succession practices.
  • Reviewed the constitutional and statutory frameworks governing intestate succession and gender equality in Nigeria.
  • Analyzed landmark judicial precedents addressing discriminatory customary law, including Nezianya v. Okagbue, Anekwe v. Anekwe, and Ukeje v. Ukeje.
  • Found that landmark judicial rulings affirm the constitutional right of widows and female children to inherit property, invalidating discriminatory customary rules.
  • Identified that entrenched cultural norms, limited public legal awareness, and poor enforcement mechanisms maintain substantial disparities between statutory legal rights and practical property inheritance.

Cite This Study

Okafor et al. (2026) studied this question.

synapsesocial.com/papers/6a8563d703308d306e2d7443https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21978351
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