In Kano State, located in northern Nigeria, local authorities officially conducted a mass wedding ceremony for hundreds of couples.
The event occurred on Friday, October 13, in Kano state as part of a mass wedding program sponsored by the local government to assist underprivileged individuals.
Given the challenging economic conditions in the country, many couples were unable to afford to organize the ceremony independently.
“Life is truly challenging, which is why I couldn’t get married until now, even though I wanted to. I hope my marriage becomes a source of prosperity for me,” remarked Yusuf Abdullahi, a textile trader.
In addition to covering the dowry, providing furniture, offering brides-to-be trousseaus, and providing a $26 start-up capital, the authorities arranged for a professional training session. Naisa Ahmad, the trainer, explained the state’s rationale.
“The idea behind teaching the brides vocational skills is to empower them to be self-reliant. The cost of living has become very high. However, if a woman has a trade, she can be a source of support for herself, her husband, and society as a whole.”
While in Nigeria’s traditional northern communities, financial responsibility for the household traditionally falls on the husband, rising inflation has prompted authorities to encourage women to work.
“These small businesses will reduce our constant reliance on our husbands,” stated Maimuna Yakubu Yakasai. “We have learned a lot. If you have a trade that brings in some income, you can contribute to minor expenses, which eases the burden on your husband.”
According to the head of the Sharia, the Islamic law, police in Kano state, organizing the mass wedding ceremony cost the state approximately $1 million.
Reportedly, the wedding of the 1,800 couples was held in various local governments across the state as a decentralized event.
