Primogeniture: Nigeria’s 1st Catholic Priest to Become SAN, Fr. Obiora, Delivers 6th Tansian Varsity Inaugural Lecture

By Mmaduabuchi Onwumelu

The first Nigerian Catholic Priest to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Very Reverend Father Professor Edwin S.C Obiora, JSD, SAN, on February 13th 2026, delivered the 6th Tansian University inaugural Lecture Series.

Delivering the Lecture, entitled “Obfuscation of Primogeniture Syndrome and Dethronement of Ergonomic Organogram of the ‘Diokpala’ in Nigerian Law of Succession, Inheritance and Distribution of Estate”, Fr. Obiora who was recently elevated to the rank of Professorship in the Faculty of Law, Tansian University, Umunya, in Oyi Local Government Area of Anambra State described primogeniture as the state of being the first born child (generally male) among siblings”, saying that jurisprudentially, the term “connotes the common-law right of the first born son to inherit his ancestor’s estate, usually, to the exclusion of his younger siblings.

Delivering on the topic, the
resource person and Professor of Property Law, Very Rev. Fr. Edwin Obiorah, among other things, noted that the primogeniture syndrome has been seriously degraded, if not totally vanquished and obfuscated, by the continued democratization of society.

Fr. Obiorah, who is also the Chancellor and BoT Chairman of the university, explained that “with the unyielding application of the ‘Repugnancy Test’, statutorily established under Section 18(3) of the Evidence Act, 2011, and the resuscitation of the ‘Right to Acquire and Own Immovable Property’ anywhere in Nigeria, as enshrined in Section 42 and 43 of the 1999 Constitution, the era of primogeniture began to fade into oblivion, if not completely obscured or obliterated.’

According to the Professor of Property Law, now, Women married under the ‘Marriage Act’ now have the right to own private property,

‘Currently, even women married under the ‘Native Law and Custom’ can now own landed property and fully deal with land on their own names, Widows now have the right to inherit their deceased husband’s landed property or estate.

‘A female child, whether married or single, can now inherit her father’s estate like her male siblings. The customs of ‘nrachi’ or ‘ili ekpe’ are now null and void.

‘The custom of a woman marrying another woman to rear children for her deceased husband or family is now abolished,’ he emphasized.

In their separate speeches, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Professor Eugene Nwadialor, and the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academics, Professor Cater-Dike Umeoduagu, noted that inaugural lecture is one of the debts a Professor owes the University and the larger society, which they said helps in shaping narratives.

The University Dons commended the lecturer for deep research works and also for delivering on a core societal issue, which they said had incessantly tore families apart and pit siblings against another.