In many parts of Nigeria, cultural practices still dictate that male children are the sole heirs to their parents’ property, especially land and houses. This tradition has left many girls and women economically vulnerable as they are often excluded from inheriting family wealth.
The issue of female inheritance is particularly important when considering the girl child. Even though there have been some efforts by the government to address this through legislation such as the Succession Law which gives equal rights for both genders to inherit property but it is yet to be fully implemented across all states.
Unfortunately, despite these laws being present , traditional norms and beliefs still persist within various ethnic groups leading to a continued marginalization of females when it comes to inheritance issues .
One argument used by proponents of this practice is that women will eventually leave their families after marriage while men continue living with them thereby making it more reasonable for males only . However, this argument fails on several fronts – one being that not all women get married or have children thus depriving them access to family wealth; secondly even those who do can face economic challenges if they don’t receive an adequate share in case of death or divorce .
It’s worth noting that excluding girls from inheriting property also perpetuates gender inequality where boys/men become privileged over girls/women creating a vicious cycle whereby stereotypes around gender roles continue without change.
To address this situation, there needs to be increased awareness-raising campaigns aimed at changing cultural attitudes towards female inheritance rights. Additionally, legal frameworks need strengthening so as ensure full implementation whilst addressing existing loopholes in current law(s).
Education plays an important role too- educating young people (boys/girls) on equality principles may help shift mindsets away from old fashioned thinking patterns hence paving way towards greater inclusivity irrespective of sex or ethnicity.
In conclusion , allowing equal opportunities for both genders when it comes to property inheritance amongst other things is crucial for creating a more just and equitable society. It’s a challenge that requires all stakeholders, including government, civil society organizations, traditional leaders and communities to work together towards achieving gender equality in Nigeria.