They told us that was the tradition so we didn’t fight with them,” she narrated.
I have noticed that whenever I delve into the topic of Wills, other issues come up such as inheritance, estate planning, joint account, and co-ownership of properties. So I have decided to dedicate the next few weeks to discussing these issues so you can all join the conversation, and share your experiences and views.
For the benefit of those who are new to my column, I want to recall a true-life story I once shared, about the issues surrounding inheritance. The story revolves around two sisters who narrated their experiences after their father’s passing, shedding light on the challenges they faced with inheritance.
Some years ago, Chinwe (not her real name) lost her relatively wealthy father, who left behind properties, land, and a significant sum of money in the bank. Unfortunately, her father passed away without leaving a will, a common superstition in their conservative country. As a result, the responsibility of dividing his estate fell on his children.
Despite being the eldest child, 29-year-old Chinwe and her five sisters were left with nothing, as all the assets went to the three male members of the family, following the tradition of their ethnic group in Nigeria. Accepting the discriminatory custom, the women did not contest the decision made by their brothers. “They told us [women] that we would get married into another person’s home so we didn’t have to inherit anything from our father. Because that’s the tradition, we didn’t fight with them,” she narrated.
Consequently, Chinwe faced financial difficulties and had to give up her plans to attend university. She now runs a small business selling cooked noodles in the town to make ends meet. Regrettably, this practice of women being excluded from their parents’ inheritance is still common in many parts of Nigeria, despite a Supreme Court ruling against such discrimination.
Another woman, Fossil (not her real name), shared a similar fate. When her father passed away, her only brother inherited the entire estate, including the family house. Despite others intervening, she was given just one room in the family house and was forbidden from locking the door. During a period of financial hardship, her brother rented out rooms in the house without sharing any of the income with her.
Justifying his actions, Fossil’s brother, Jude (not his real name), argued that he merely followed the traditions of their people.
Jude essentially rebuilt the house he inherited from his father while his sister got nothing “Here the men take it all, they give to their women whatever they wish,” she said.
“This fighting for inheritance in your father’s house is just like fighting for [a] double portion, because when you (women) get an inheritance from your father’s house, definitely you will still get from your husband’s house,” he said.
There are many of such sad stories.
The Nigerian constitution prohibits such gender-based discrimination but ethnic groups and tribes still stick to the traditions.
In most families, property left behind by fathers is divided among male children – the size of each person’s share is determined by age so older siblings tend to get more – and women are excluded. In some cases, where shares are given to women, they are limited to things owned by their mothers and cannot inherit lands and houses…
Please feel free to share your experience or views with me
To be continued.
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