DISINHERITANCE AND WOMEN DEVELOPMENT IN IGBOLAND, EASTERN NIGERIA: A THEOLOGICAL-ETHICAL STUDY

Abstract

Inheritance is the means through which asset passes from parents to children at death. However, it is common in some societies including Igbo land that women and female children are deprived of the rights to inherit the landed property of their parents or husbands at intestate. The Igbo cultural practices that support or promote disinheritance of daughters, women and widows seem not to maximally encourage women development physically, intellectually, emotionally, socially and morally. The culture of the Igbo people with regard to women’s inheritance is somewhat discriminatory. It regrettably persists despite the global upsurge in women’s rights that culminated in the enactment of international and national treaties on women’s emancipation and empowerment. This article emphasizes that the discriminatory cultural practices of the Igbo people should be redressed on ethical and theological grounds. The article proffers that the traditional and religious leaders should arise to effect changes in the Igbo cultural practices and beliefs especially those related to women inheritance rights. By so doing, the status of women economically, socially, intellectually, emotionally and morally will drastically improve thereby enhancing the development and well-being of the women folk and the society at large.