Kano mass wedding open to both Muslims, Christians – Official

The Kano State Hisbah Board has stated that its mass wedding programme is open to both Muslims and Christians who meet the requirements and wish to participate in the initiative.

The Deputy Commander of the board, Mujahideen Aminuddeen, made the clarification during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on Wednesday while outlining the conditions for participation.

He disclosed that three Christian couples were among those who participated in the last edition of the programme held in October 2023.

Although preparations are underway for another round of the exercise, Aminuddeen said it was too early to confirm whether any Christian couples had registered interest for the upcoming event.

He explained that the programme, now known as “Auren Gata,” meaning “marriage for the privileged,” is designed for widows, widowers, divorcees, spinsters and bachelors.

According to him, the initiative continues to promote stable family life while helping to curb social vices across the state.

He added that one of the programme’s goals is to fulfil Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) instruction encouraging Muslims to marry and build families.

Aminuddeen also said the initiative helps reduce street hawking among young women seeking money for marriage expenses and addresses immoral behaviour linked to delayed marriages caused by financial challenges.

He further stated that the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf is focusing on supporting orphans and other disadvantaged families unable to finance the marriages of their daughters, stressing that all beneficiaries are selected through screening and verification.

A stakeholder, Sheikh Muhammad Lawan-Yakub, described the programme as a positive intervention that would strengthen families, discourage immoral behaviour among young people and improve social stability.

He expressed confidence that the counselling, screening and post-marriage guidance provided by the board would contribute to more successful marriages and lower divorce rates.

A Kano resident, Jamila Suraja, said the programme had assisted many vulnerable families and urged intending beneficiaries to embrace marriage with genuine commitment.

She, however, raised concerns that some couples in previous editions allegedly joined the programme mainly to benefit from government assistance rather than build lasting homes.

Another resident, Hassan Maikadara, said the initiative had given many men and women who lacked financial resources the opportunity to marry.

He added that the programme would also help young people avoid immoral acts.

An economist, Dr Abdulsalam Kani, said the initiative could stimulate economic activities across the state if implemented effectively.

Kani said the empowerment package attached to the programme could reduce poverty, which he identified as one of the leading causes of divorce in the region.

“As part of the initiative, the government will empower beneficiaries. The empowerment will assist in reducing poverty and unemployment.

“One of the major root causes of rampant divorce in the northern part of Nigeria is poverty. You cannot get married if you don’t have a means of livelihood.

“We need to understand that empowerment will only succeed if those who are going to be empowered have a particular skill or are engaged in a particular trade.”

A sociologist, Dr Muhammad Hadi-Musa, said the programme should be viewed beyond its ceremonial and welfare components, describing it as a broader social development initiative.

“The mass wedding initiative sponsored by the Kano State Government has become one of the most visible social intervention programmes in Northern Nigeria.

“The current Governor, Abba Yusuf, like his predecessors, has demonstrated commitment to Sharia implementation through initiatives such as facilitating marriages.

“At its core, the mass wedding programme reflects a public policy response to social realities.”

He noted that government support enables low-income individuals to formalise relationships that might otherwise be delayed due to financial constraints.

“Kano has arguably recorded several visible gains from such programmes. The initiative has helped normalise simpler and more affordable wedding models, challenging excessive ceremonial spending that often delays marriage.

“It has also reinforced the idea that public institutions can participate in family-support policies rather than limiting interventions to infrastructure and economic sectors alone.

“In addition, the programme has generated public conversations around responsible marriage and family values,” Hadi-Musa said.

Speaking recently on the forthcoming edition of the programme, for which a date has yet to be announced, the Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, said the Kano State Government had approved N1.5 billion to cater for 1,500 couples.

He said preparations had reached an advanced stage, with intending couples currently undergoing HIV and other medical examinations.

Daurawa said the board would ensure that every couple is medically fit and compatible, while each groom must also have a source of livelihood and suitable accommodation before the marriage.

He disclosed that each groom would receive N100,000 to present as dowry to his bride.

He added that every bride would also be given N100,000 as empowerment capital to establish a business after marriage.

“The government will spend N1 million on each couple, totalling N1.5 billion.

“Each groom will be given the sum of N100,000 for dowry to their brides, N100,000 as empowerment for the brides, while the government will also provide beds, mattresses, furniture and food items.

“About 5,000 people applied for the programme. A total of 3,000 beneficiaries, representing 1,500 couples, will benefit from the initiative.”

He said the selected couples would undergo HIV, hepatitis B, pregnancy and genotype tests.

According to Daurawa, no participant in the mass wedding programme can divorce his wife without the consent of the board.

(NAN)