…described the Edwin Obiora inaugural lecture as a significant academic obligation.
Umunya, Nigeria — The iNews Times, reports that Edwin Obiora inaugural lecture was delivered on February 13, 2026 by Edwin Obiora, the first Nigerian Catholic priest elevated to the rank of Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), during the 6th Lecture Series of Tansian University in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State.
Delivering the Edwin Obiora inaugural lecture titled “Obfuscation of Primogeniture Syndrome and Dethronement of Ergonomic Organogram of the ‘Diokpala’ in Nigerian Law of Succession, Inheritance and Distribution of Estate,” the cleric defined primogeniture as the status of being the firstborn child, traditionally a male, among siblings.
The priest and Professor of Property Law explained that jurisprudentially, primogeniture connotes the common-law right of the firstborn son to inherit family property, often excluding younger siblings.
According to him, the Edwin Obiora inaugural lecture highlighted that the primogeniture syndrome has been significantly weakened by the democratization of society and evolving constitutional protections.
Obiora further noted that the application of the Repugnancy Test under the Evidence Act 2011 and constitutional provisions guaranteeing property ownership rights have contributed to dismantling discriminatory inheritance practices.
He emphasized that women married under the Marriage Act now enjoy full property ownership rights, while those married under native law and custom can also acquire and manage landed property independently.
The legal scholar added that widows now have inheritance rights over their deceased husbands’ estates, while female children, whether married or single, can inherit their father’s property on equal footing with male siblings.
He stressed that harmful customs such as nrachi, ili ekpe, and the practice of women marrying other women to raise heirs for deceased husbands have largely been invalidated by modern legal developments.
In separate remarks, Vice Chancellor Eugene Nwadialor and Deputy Vice Chancellor (Academics) Cater-Dike Umeoduagu described the Edwin Obiora inaugural lecture as a significant academic obligation that contributes to societal discourse and policy direction.
They commended the lecturer for his depth of research and for addressing inheritance disputes that have historically fueled family conflicts and sibling rivalries.
