Abia Governor Okezie Ikpeazu has granted assent to the Bill, which guarantees the right of females to inherit and own property in their father’s family in the State.

Abia Assembly some weeks ago passed the Bill to bring Abia State in conformity with international best practices of eliminating all forms of discrimination against women.

While appending his signature on the Law, Ikpeazu made it clear that his administration shall lean on the side of reason and common sense in the discharge of its obligations to residents, noting that it has become anachronistic to continue to treat women as second-class citizens even in their families.

The Governor thanked the Assembly for showing courage to pass this bill,l which he described as historic, positively disruptive, and capable of setting our society on the path of equal opportunities and sustainable development.

The Governor stated that the female inheritance Bill was the most important legislation passed by the State House of Assembly.

He congratulated Abia women for this feat and assured them that the Abia State Government will continue to support them.

The proper citation of the Law is THE FEMALE PERSONS RIGHT OF INHERITANCE OF PROPERTY LAW, 2022, while the Long Title of the Law is “A Law to provide for the Right of a Female Person to Inherit and Own Property and for other Matters Connected Therewith”.

Abia State by signing the Bill into law has become one of the first in Nigeria to have the law fully in place.

Speaker Chinedum Orji, the Permanent Secretary/Clerk of the House of Assembly, Sir John Pedro Irokansi, Secretary to Government, Barrister Chris Ezem, and the Chief of Staff to the Governor, Chief Okey Ahiwe witnessed the event.