Cross River community abolishes age-long harmful practice against women
A major milestone has been recorded in efforts to end the “Money Woman” tradition in Becheve communities of Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State, with a new agreement offering
- ....banish ‘Money Woman’ culture
A major milestone has been recorded in efforts to end the “Money Woman” tradition in Becheve communities of Obanliku Local Government Area, Cross River State, with a new agreement offering a pathway to freedom for affected women.
The Founding Executive Director of the Africa Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Dr. Otive Igbuzor, disclosed the development in Abuja during a two-day National Summit on Male Feminism and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention.
He said the breakthrough marks a turning point in addressing the long-standing practice, where young girls are given out in marriage to settle family debts, noting that it has paved the way for survivors still trapped in such arrangements to regain their freedom.
Igbuzor explained that although the practice was formally outlawed in 2020 through a local by-law supported by the UN Women-funded Spotlight Initiative, many victims remained unable to leave due to excessive financial demands imposed by those holding them.
“Attempts to secure their release were often met with inflated financial demands far beyond what families could afford. A practice abolished in principle continued in reality for those already affected,” he said.
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He noted that sustained engagement by the Male Feminists Network (MFN), including dialogue with the Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, clan heads, and other stakeholders, led to a resolution reached on March 12, 2026.
Under the agreement, a standardised maximum release fee of ₦100,000 was adopted for affected women seeking freedom.
“This decision marked a turning point. It replaced uncertainty and exploitation with clarity, fairness, and dignity,” Igbuzor said.
He added that the resolution effectively removes a major barrier to emancipation by eliminating arbitrary financial demands and introducing a structured framework for release.
Beyond securing freedom for survivors, Igbuzor noted that the intervention also focuses on long-term reintegration through a dual strategy of “emancipation and empowerment,” aimed at supporting affected women to rebuild their lives.
"Many survivors have lived for years without access to education or livelihoods," the MFN founder noted. "Empowerment ensures they can rebuild their lives with dignity and independence."
Igbuzor highlighted that the progress in Cross River is a practical outcome of the MFN’s mission to move men from being "passive observers to active participants."
Reflecting on the progress made since January 2026, including the training of over 3,150 Nigerians on GBV prevention, Igbuzor lauded the traditional rulers for their courage in evolving culture to uphold human rights.
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"This is the shift we are building nationwide: men moving from bystanders to accountable actors for gender justice," he said.
As the implementation phase begins—focusing on resource mobilization and monitoring— Igbuzor called on the media and policymakers to support the restoration of dignity for these women.
"What we present today is not just a resolution. It is a restoration of dignity. It is proof that change is possible when communities choose courage over silence," he concluded.
Presenting the communique of the agreement, reached during the March 12, 2026, the Paramount Ruler of Obanliku, HRM Amos Uyumulam Item, alongside several clan heads, said the primary breakthrough of the summit was the decision to standardize the "refund" required to sever the traditional debt-marriage ties that have enslaved girls for generations.
To resolve the long-standing issue of husbands demanding exorbitant sums to release women, the council officially pegged the returnable bride price at a flat rate.
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"The said agreed bride price to be returned was pegged at one hundred thousand naira (N100, 000) only, irrespective of whatever items were involved," the communiqué stated.
This move provides a practical exit strategy for families who were previously unable to "buy back" their daughters from these forced unions. The leaders reaffirmed that the tradition remains "totally abolished and banished" across the Becheve ward.
The communiqué also addressed the complex reality of older survivors who may not wish to leave their homes or children. In a compassionate twist, the council agreed that the ₦100,000 sum, rather than being paid to a "husband," could be redirected to the women themselves.
"It was also agreed that the said N100,000 could be used to empower the elderly woman who cannot leave the marriage and must stay with her children," the document noted.
The communiqué urged that survivors receive adequate skill training and empowerment to enable them to meet certain life challenges."
The document was signed by a powerful coalition of local authorities, including HRH Ushen Pius U. (Clan Head, Bukemaya), HRH Sylvester Abila (Otale Clan), HRH Sunday Chile (Becheve Clan), and Comrade Siwhan Noah U., Secretary of the Traditional Ruler’s Council.
