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Breaking the Patriarchy: How Igbo Inheritance Practices Have Long Worked Against Women—And Why Change Is Finally Coming

Helen Okoro 5 hours ago 3 min read

By : Chinasaokwu Helen Okoro

For generations, inheritance among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria has been guided by deep-rooted customs that reflect a patriarchal social order. While these traditions were designed to preserve family lineage and property within the male line, they have also systematically disadvantaged women—denying them rights to property, land, and economic security. In recent years, however, growing awareness, constitutional protections, and landmark court rulings are gradually challenging these discriminatory norms.

At the core of Igbo inheritance practices is patrilineality—the belief that descent and property should pass through male offspring. Traditionally, when a man dies, his estate—houses, farmland, livestock, and titles—goes to his sons. Daughters, on the other hand, are often excluded because once married, they are viewed as belonging to another family. Widows, though permitted to stay in their husband’s home, are generally not considered rightful owners of property; their access to it depends on the goodwill of male relatives.

This system, while ensuring continuity of family names and land ownership within a lineage, has worked strongly against women. Daughters who grow up in such households are reminded from childhood that they will not inherit anything from their fathers. Their expected role is to marry and depend on their husbands. Widows, even after years of contributing to their families, face the painful reality of being dispossessed when their husbands die—especially if they have no male children. In some communities, brothers-in-law or uncles of the deceased claim ownership of the property, leaving widows and daughters homeless and destitute.

Beyond economic deprivation, these customs reinforce gender inequality and dependence. Women are denied a fair share of family wealth and excluded from decision-making regarding ancestral land. Their identities and livelihoods are tied to men, limiting their autonomy and ability to build intergenerational wealth. For centuries, local customary courts upheld these practices, describing them as sacred traditions not to be altered by modern law.

But the tide is turning. Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution guarantees equality for all citizens regardless of gender, ethnicity, or religion. This provision has empowered women and human rights advocates to challenge discriminatory customs in court. A major breakthrough came in 1997, when the Court of Appeal in Mojekwu v. Mojekwu condemned the “Oli-ekpe” custom—which barred women from inheriting property—as “repugnant to natural justice, equity, and good conscience.” The court ruled that no custom can override a woman’s right to fair treatment.

The legal momentum continued in 2014, when the Supreme Court, in Ukeje v. Ukeje, delivered a historic verdict declaring that no Nigerian woman should be denied inheritance rights on the basis of gender. The judgment affirmed that such customs violate the Constitution and the fundamental rights of women. These rulings set a powerful precedent, compelling families and local courts to reconsider long-held norms.

However, the battle for equality is far from over. While urban and educated families increasingly divide property among all children—male and female—many rural communities still cling to patriarchal traditions. Customary law remains strong, particularly in areas where land is viewed as ancestral heritage that must remain with male descendants. In such places, even court rulings are slow to take effect, as social pressure and fear of ostracism prevent women from asserting their rights.

Despite the resistance, cultural change is underway. Many Igbo families now voluntarily include their daughters in wills or gift them land and property during their lifetime. Younger generations, influenced by education, Christianity, and global ideals of equality, are redefining what inheritance means. They see it not just as the preservation of lineage but as a measure of fairness, love, and progress.

In truth, traditional Igbo inheritance laws were never neutral—they were structured to maintain male dominance and exclude women from ownership and power. But as Nigeria’s legal system and social consciousness evolve, more families are embracing a fairer model where all children—sons and daughters alike—are recognized as rightful heirs. The transformation may be gradual, but it marks a critical step toward gender justice and the dismantling of long-standing inequality within Igbo society.