UDTR — Radar mondial des droits de la Nature

Beyond Welfare Rhetoric: ADoctrinal Appraisal of Child Custody After Dissolution of Marriage in Nigeria - The Obio-Akpor Experience

Identification

Clé publique

doi:10.5281/zenodo.21177354

Auteurs

Priscilla Nkechinyere Eberechi

Année déclarée

2026

Langue déclarée

en

Type source

article

Première détection

2026-11-09T19:04:47.782143+00:00

Dernière observation des métadonnées

2026-11-09T19:04:47.782143+00:00

Dernière vérification HTTP

Non effectuée

Institutions déclarées par la source

Rivers State University

Pays d’affiliation déclarés

NG

Résumé documentaire — langue originale

The dissolution of marriage generates complex legal, social, and emotional consequences, particularly for children who often emerge as the most vulnerable parties in custody disputes. This article critically examines the legal framework governing child custody after dissolution of marriage in Nigeria, with particular focus on Obio-Akpor Local Government Area of Rivers State. Adopting a doctrinal legal research methodology supported by contextual case-study analysis, the study interrogates statutory provisions, judicial authorities, and institutional practices relating to custody determination and enforcement. It further undertakes a comparative analysis of the legal frameworks of the United Kingdom and South Africa to identify best practices relevant to reforming Nigerian custody law. The study finds that although Nigerian custody law is normatively anchored on the welfare principle and the best interest of the child doctrine, substantial implementation challenges persist. These include excessive judicial discretion, absence of structured welfare assessment criteria, weak enforcement mechanisms, socio-cultural interference, and inadequate institutional support. The realities in Obio-Akpor demonstrate how urbanisation, economic instability, customary expectations, and gendered social norms frequently complicate custody outcomes. The article argues that the current legal framework, while doctrinally progressive, remains institutionally inadequate in practice. It recommends the adoption of a statutory welfare checklist, establishment of specialised family courts, strengthened social welfare institutions, mandatory mediation mechanisms, and enhanced enforcement systems. The article concludes that the effectiveness of custody law should be assessed not merely by statutory compliance but by its practical capacity to safeguard the dignity, welfare, stability, and developmental future of the child.

Identifiants

OPENALEX

W7168134182

DOI

10.5281/zenodo.21177354 · 10.67588/0001

Repères documentaires

Famille documentaire

Doctrine

Types déclarés par les sources

article

Juridictions étudiées — sources explicites

GB · NG · ZA

Entités naturelles mentionnées

Fleuve / rivière

Les mentions d’entités ne constituent pas une preuve de reconnaissance juridique. La juridiction étudiée est distincte du pays d’affiliation des auteurs.

Sources

OpenAlex · Document 1 · Document 2

• DOI · https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.21177354
• DOI · https://doi.org/10.67588/0001
• OpenAlex · https://openalex.org/W7168134182

Relations bibliographiques documentées

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• openalex:w2041099624 · CITES
• openalex:w2136078994 · CITES
• openalex:w2147839830 · CITES
• openalex:w3124438648 · CITES
• openalex:w4250217755 · CITES
• openalex:w4417156497 · CITES
• openalex:w7120041313 · CITES
• openalex:w7163663402 · CITES

0 références entrantes au sein du corpus détecté

Statut documentaire

Pertinence à examiner

Bibliothèque

Cette identité n’est pas encore intégrée à la Bibliothèque juridique.