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This book focused on the challenges faced by women in their quest for land, including the difference between access to land and ownership and how this affects the economic life of rural women. It revealed that ownership of land did not affect how credit facilities were attained as both men and women did not benefit such from the government, development banks, micro finance banks or even from the local government. Men have control over land and other properties because women are usually not considered or consulted when issues of inheritance are discussed. In addition, women´s status to land determined the choice of crops to grow. This book, therefore, recommends that gerontocratic rule should be gradually replaced by the prescribed model of kingship and succession rule that would guarantee a dynamic and progressive style of rulership in communities. In addition, women should be considered in inheritance rights through modification of cultural practices guaranteed by adequate enforcement of the statutory law and review of the customary law in such communities. The book is therefore a must read for community development experts, governments and the academia.

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Dr. Charles Tunde Iruonagbe holds a Ph.D in Sociology, specializing in Sociology of Development, Rural Sociology/Community Studies and Gender Studies. He has published widely in his areas of specialization and currently lectures at the Department of Sociology, Covenant University, Nigeria.

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