Nigeria marries 1,500 couples in mass wedding
The government describes the program as a way to support low-income families and promote social stability. Among those married were people who lost family members in violent attacks.
In northern Nigeria, Kano state Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf orchestrated a mass wedding ceremony for 1,500 couples, aiming to bolster low-income families and foster social stability. The two-day event was described as a bold social intervention by Yusuf, who stated that the government was helping financially unstable husbands to marry.
Each bride was given a dowry of 200,000 naira ($147, €127) and assistance in establishing a small business, along with household items such as beds, mattresses, and blankets. Prior to the wedding, the couples underwent screening and counseling. The program also aimed to support individuals affected by violent attacks, with one participant, Haruna Bashir, losing his wife and six children in a recent attack.
The mass wedding served as a means for Bashir to gradually reintegrate into society. Nigeria has been facing a significant security crisis, especially in the north, where Islamist insurgents and organized gangs frequently conduct raids and attacks. In response, the Nigerian government announced the release of 308 individuals who had been abducted.
Written by urgent.news from DW News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
