Kebbi gov Idris joins 300 couples as husbands, wives in mass wedding 

The Kebbi state governor, Nasir Idris, has presided over the mass wedding of 300 couples after a total payment of N54 million for dowries, with each couple N180, 000.

The 300 men with an equal number of women were subjected to genotype tests, while the women were examined to ensure that they were pregnant-free before the solemnisation of the marriages.

The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, represented by the Magajin Garin Gwandu, Alhaji Aminullahi Umar, served as the waliy (guardian) to the brides who gave them out in marriage.

The National Chairman of the APC, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, stood in for the grooms as the wakil (representative), who sought the consummation of the union from the guardian.

Governor Nasir Idris commended his wife, Hajiya Nafisa, for organising the mass wedding under her pet project, NANAS Foundation, sponsored by the government.

The governor announced that broader mass marriages would be held next year as part of the social responsibility of the administration.

Sets of room furniture, including beds and beddings, and household utensils were provided to each couple by the government.

In addition, the wife of the governor donated N20, 000 to each husband and wife, totalling N12 million, with a similar donation by the member, House of Representatives, Suru/Bagudo Constituency, Bello Dallatun Ka’oje.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, gave each couple N50, 000; N30, 000 for the groom and N20, 000 for the bride, amounting to N15 million.

Islamic clerics who solemnised the marriages were the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Birnin Kebbi, Sheikh Mukhtar Abdullahi, the Walin Gwandu, Malam Ahmad S/Fawa, the Imam of Jokolo Mosque, and Malam Muhammadu Yahaya, the Imam of Wala Jumu’a Mosque, Birnin Kebbi.

Scholars who delivered sermons were Professor Mansur Isah Yelwa, Professor Mansur Ibrahim Sokoto, Sheikh AbdURRAHMAN Isa Jega, and Malam Ahmad Tijjani of the Dariqa Movement.

They admonished the couples to be persevering, show love for one another, remain loyal to marriage Institution, uphold trust, justice and sincerity as well as discharge the obligations incumbent on husband and wife.