The Kebbi State Government has announced plans to sponsor a mass wedding for 300 couples, which is set to take place on February 27. The initiative, aimed at supporting the less privileged in the state, is a fulfillment of a promise made by Governor Nasir Idris during a previous mass wedding event. The government will provide significant financial support, including dowries for each bride, as part of efforts to facilitate marriage for those who may face financial barriers.
Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, the Chairman of the Organizing Committee for the event, shared details of the preparation with newsmen in Birnin Kebbi. He explained that the mass wedding was being organized in collaboration with the Nafisa Nasir Charity Development Foundation (NANAS), a non-governmental organization. The event is part of the state’s broader initiative to assist the less privileged by making it easier for them to enter into marriage.
Argungu revealed that the state government has allocated a total of N54 million to fund the dowries for the 300 brides. Each bride from the 21 Local Government Areas of Kebbi State will receive N180,000 as part of their dowry. This funding, he noted, will go a long way in alleviating the financial burdens that often hinder marriage, especially among the less privileged.
In addition to the dowries, the organizing committee has put in place a number of preparatory measures to ensure that the event is successful and that the marriages are legitimate. Argungu stated that various committees have been set up to handle important tasks such as conducting pregnancy tests, genotype tests, and HIV/AIDS tests for all participants, in line with the legal and health requirements for marriages in the state. These tests are intended to promote the health and well-being of the couples and ensure that they meet the necessary prerequisites for marriage.
The government’s effort to provide additional support to the couples includes the provision of room furniture and foodstuffs for all participants. These items, according to Argungu, will help strengthen the couples’ new lives together, ensuring that they have the essentials needed to begin their marital journey on a positive note.
Governor Nasir Idris’s initiative aims to offer a helping hand to citizens who might otherwise be unable to afford the costs of marriage, fostering a sense of community and support for the people of Kebbi State. The mass wedding is expected to not only provide a financial boost to the couples but also set a precedent for future government efforts to assist the less privileged in the state.
