Gender discrimination in land ownership and the alleviation of women’s poverty in Nigeria

Abstract

In Nigeria, gender roles are manifested in social rights and entitlements in a form which denies women equal economic and political empowerment and, in particular, women right to own land. The consequence of gender discrimination in land ownership is women’s lack of access to land which constitutes a major source and means of wealth creation and economic empowerment, hence women’s vulnerability to poverty. This article considers a land redistribution reform which can address the discrimination against women in land ownership and give women access to land for economic empowerment, thereby alleviating poverty among women in Nigeria. The article proposes that an ideal land reform in Nigeria has to fulfil three key objectives of equity, equality and productivity which the article refers to as ‘new equities’. It argues that only a redistributive land reform which integrates these ‘equities’ can adequately address gender discrimination in land ownership, ensure women’s access to land for economic empowerment and alleviate women’s poverty in Nigeria.