THE IMPACT OF TRADITION ON WIDOWHOOD RITES AND PROPERTY RIGHTS ON WOMEN INEGOR LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF EDO STATE, NIGERIA

The study investigated the impact of tradition on widowhood rites and property rights on women in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. Two research questions guided the study. The study adopted the feminist legal theory as a theoretical framework of the study. Empirical review was also done in the study and it was discovered that the Egors' widowhood customs and property rights have not been researched. Also descriptive survey research design was adopted to determine the impact of tradition on widowhood rites and property rights on women in Egor Local Government Area of Edo State. 384 residents were used as the sample size. There were major findings in this study such as during mourning period, widows are expected to sit on a bare floor or mat, She is to go into seclusion for seven days without bathing, Women cannot inherit any of her husband's property and the world is a man's own etc. The study recommended creation of awareness against negative practices towards any woman who lost her husband, general public should be educated against the negative practice, government should join hands in the fight against cruel widowhood rites, laws and policies should be enacted to protect women against cruel widowhood rites; and social workers should stand in the gap by advocating in the eliminating dehumanizing widowhood rites and claiming the rights of women in the inheritance of family's properties in Egor Local Government Area.