LEGITIMACY OF CHILDREN IN NIGERIA: AN APPRAISAL OF THE IMPACT OF SECTION 42(2) OF THE 1999 CONSTITUTION

This project examines the legitimacy of children under Nigerian law with a specific focus on section 42(2) of the 1999 Constitution. section 42(2) seeks to prevent discrimination based on the birth status of individuals, including children born out of wedlock. despite this constitutional safeguard, the provision remains inadequate in effectively protecting the rights of such children, particularly in matters related to inheritance. this project critically analyzes how the existing constitutional framework fails to fully address the pervasive societal and legal biases against children born outside of marriage through a detailed appraisal of section 42(2) alongside relevant legal precedents, this work explores the ongoing challenges faced by out-of-wedlock children in securing equal inheritance rights the study ultimately argues for the need to strengthen legal protections and amend the constitutional provisions to ensure true equality and non-discrimination for all children, irrespective of their birth status.