Customary Inheritance and Lineage Systems: Implications for Women's Property Rights in Ekpeyeland, Rivers State, Nigeria

This study investigated how customary inheritance and lineage systems influence women's property rights in Ekpeyeland, Rivers State, Nigeria, amid persistent gender disparities despite constitutional protections. Specifically, the study assessed the nature of these systems, their impact on women's property ownership, the resulting socio-economic implications, and strategies for equitable reform. Employing a descriptive survey design, the study utilized a multistage sampling procedure to select 400 stakeholders from a target population of 583,900 using the Taro Yamane formula. Data collected through structured questionnaires and key informant interviews were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square tests at a 0.05 significance level. The findings revealed that customary and patrilineal systems remain the dominant determinants of property ownership, significantly restricting daughters and widows due to entrenched patriarchal norms. This lack of ownership negatively impacts women’s economic empowerment, agricultural productivity, and household decision-making. While education and judicial decisions have sparked gradual progress, customary institutions still hold substantial sway. The study concluded that protecting women's property rights requires harmonizing customary practices with constitutional principles of equality. It recommends reviewing discriminatory customs, enhancing legal literacy for women, strengthening judicial enforcement, and fostering collaboration among government agencies, traditional rulers, and civil society organizations.