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.
Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf of Kano state in northern Nigeria orchestrated a mass wedding ceremony for 1,500 couples over two days. The regional government justified the event as a means to support low-income families and foster social stability. Groom Abubakar Aliyu Musa explained to the Associated Press that the government was assisting financially unstable individuals in marrying.
Each bride was given a dowry of 200,000 naira ($147, €127) and assistance in starting a small business, while the couples were also provided with household items like beds, mattresses, and blankets. Before the nuptials, the couples underwent screening and counseling. Governor Yusuf characterized the initiative as a bold social intervention to restore hope and promote dignified family life in Kano.
The program aimed to aid women who might otherwise find marriage financially challenging, as well as to strengthen families and bolster social stability in the state. Participants included individuals who had lost family members in violent attacks, such as Haruna Bashir, whose family was wiped out by an attack earlier in the year.
The ceremony marked a step towards Bashir's gradual return to normalcy, as he had barely interacted with others since the tragedy. Nigeria has been plagued by a severe security crisis, particularly in the north, where Islamist insurgents and organized gangs frequently carry out raids and kidnappings. Recently, the Nigerian government announced the release of 308 people who had been abducted.
Written by urgent.news from DW English (Top Stories)'s reporting — not their text. Machine-written; read the original for the full account.
This story
This is one outlet's version. Read the fullest account.
