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emphasized. It is only through a concerted action that the desired

dejure and de facto changes can be achieved.

Research

Conducting intensive and well-documented research into

womens realities with respect to inheritance laws and practiceswill provide the much-needed information to embark on

advocacy for change.

Conclusion

The legal and regulatory environment for womens rights

to inheritance are not sufficient and the few legislations that exist

show lack of commitment to gender equity in inheritance rights.

Also, the laws and practices governing inheritance and successionunder customary law is very discriminatory and, therefore,

constitute a major obstacle to the achievement of equality

between men and women. Even the Islamic system that appears

to be the most just under customary law does not give equal

rights to inheritance to daughters and wives. Social justice

demands that both forms of marriage should be given equal

treatment, moreso, when both marriages are recognized under the

law as valid. Nigerian government also is a signatory to CEDAW

and should keep to its signatory obligation as a state party. In

particular, section 2(f) which placed an obligation on the

government to take all appropriate measures, including

legislation, to modify or abolish existing laws, regulations,

customs and practices which constitute discrimination against

women should be implemented. Similarly, the African Charter

on Human and Peoples Rights in section 18 (3) stipulates that

the State shall ensure the elimination of every discrimination

against women and also ensure the protection of the rights of thewoman and the child as stipulated in international declarations

and conventions. This also should be implemented.

Joy Ezeilo, LLM (Lond) B.L.

Faculty of Law,

University of Nigeria,

Enugu Campus.