Nigeria’s mass wedding – and how telling lovers from fraudsters is proving tricky
Celebrations have turned the northern Nigerian city of Kano into a riot of colour and excitement over the last week as 1,500 couples married at a mass wedding.
The northern Nigerian city of Kano has been transformed into a vibrant celebration over the past week as 1,500 couples exchanged their vows at a mass wedding. The streets buzzed with bridal parties and their families, preparing for the grand ceremony held at the palace of the Emir, the city's traditional Muslim leader. The Kano state government sponsored the initiative, investing 1.5 billion naira ($1m; £815,000) in the event, which aimed to support low-income individuals who couldn't afford the significant costs associated with marriage.
The government provided the bride's dowry and furniture for the couple's first home, with support packages costing approximately 1 million naira ($735; £544) per participating couple. The event, which began in 2012, continued under subsequent governors, with numbers expanding each year due to growing demand. The Hisbah, the city's Islamic police force, oversaw the process, ensuring couples met strict requirements such as medical examinations, including tests for HIV, hepatitis, pregnancy, and genotype compatibility.
Despite the popularity of the scheme, the Hisbah faced challenges in vetting applicants, as some couples went to great lengths to deceive authorities for the benefits offered. One successful groom, Rabiu Yusuf, expressed his satisfaction with the smooth application process, while his wife, Amina Alhassan, praised the government for making the scheme accessible, stating that without it, many people would not have been able to afford marriage due to the high cost of living.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
