Och’Idoma moves against child marriage, FGM, unequal inheritance rights, others

The Och’Idoma and Paramount Ruler of Idoma Kingdom, Agaba’Idu Elaigwu Odogbo John, has called for the reform or outright discontinuation of 25 harmful gender and cultural practices affecting women and girls.

Among the practices identified by the traditional ruler are child marriage, female genital mutilation, domestic violence, discrimination against daughters in favour of sons and unequal inheritance rights.

He also challenged the practice of treating bride price as giving a man ownership over his wife, describing the need to change such beliefs as part of efforts to promote equality and protect women.

The Och’Idoma made the call during the Fathers4Equality Recognition Awards and Traditional Leaders Conference 2026 held in Abuja.

The event, organised by the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development, Centre LSD, was held under the theme, “Redefining Fatherhood for Equality and Justice.”

The conference brought together fathers and traditional leaders to discuss responsible parenting, positive masculinity, male allyship, gender equality and the prevention of gender-based violence.

Participants emphasised the importance of raising boys to respect women as equals while ensuring that girls grow up with confidence and an understanding of their value.

Speakers also maintained that the fight for gender justice should extend beyond legislation, courts and government policies, stressing that meaningful change must begin within families and traditional institutions.

In his Royal Declaration, the Och’Idoma identified 25 gender and cultural practices that he said should either be reformed or discontinued.

The practices include child marriage, domestic violence, preference for male children, unequal inheritance, female genital mutilation and the perception that payment of bride price confers ownership of a woman on her husband.

The traditional ruler further encouraged fathers to give their daughters the same attention, opportunities and support given to their sons.

He urged participants at the conference to return to their various communities with the resolutions reached at the event and work towards their implementation.

The conference ultimately called for a new understanding of fatherhood rooted in responsibility, compassion and equality, while emphasising the influence traditional rulers and community leaders can wield in dismantling harmful gender norms.