The Kano State Government says it has spent N1.5 billion on its mass wedding scheme, with funds going into medical checks, dowry payments, furniture, and other support packages for the beneficiaries.
Governor Abba Kabir-Yusuf announced this on Saturday during a reception and the handover of household items to the newly wedded couples at Government House, Kano.
According to him, the current administration allocated more than N1.5 billion to drive the initiative and give full backing to the couples as they start their new lives.
“This expenditure covered medical screening for all the brides and grooms to safeguard their health and that of their future children.
“Similarly, we provided the payment of N100,000 as dowry, in addition to another N100,000 as capital grant to serve as seed capital for starting a business and promoting self-reliance.
“We also provided household furniture and essential items, including beds, mattresses, and other necessities to enable the couples to begin their married lives comfortably.
“The government has also provided food items and other essential commodities to cushion the hardship they may encounter during the early days of their marriage,” he said.
Gov. Yusuf urged the couples to prioritize peace, unity, mutual respect and understanding in their homes.
He also reminded them that marriage “is an act of worship”, and encouraged them to build their families in line with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (SAW).
The governor noted that the mass wedding, tagged _Auren Gata_, was part of the key promises he made to Kano people ahead of the 2023 general elections.
“Today, we have continued to fulfil that promise. Before this wedding ceremony, all prospective couples underwent a comprehensive screening process.
“This included medical examinations to ascertain their health status, marriage counselling by qualified professionals, and participation in workshops and seminars designed by the Kano State Hisbah Board to prepare them for the responsibilities of married life,” he revealed.
He further congratulated the couples as they begin a new chapter.
“As you were repeatedly advised during the counselling sessions, I urge you to be patient with one another, to uphold justice and fairness in your homes, to respect one another, and to live together in peace, harmony, and mutual understanding,” he prayed.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum and Katsina State Governor, Umar Dikko-Radda, applauded Gov. Yusuf for the program, saying it is designed to uplift the welfare and standard of living of residents in the state.
In his remarks, renowned Islamic scholar Sheikh Abdullahi Bala-Lau, represented by Sheikh Kabir Gombe, said the initiative could help curb insecurity and reduce protests linked to jobless youths.
Dignitaries at the ceremony included Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, and former Kano Governor, Senator Ibrahim Shekarau
Reporting for Century Television News
