Kebbi Gov., Nasir Idris, Unites 300 Couples In Mass Wedding
By Armstrong Tseaa
The Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris, has presided over a mass wedding of 300 couples, with the state government funding the payment of N54 million as dowry at N180,000 per couple.
A press release made available to DAILYLIGHT REPORTERS and signed by Yahaya Sarki, Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity to the state governor stated that ahead of the solemnisation, all prospective couples underwent genotype test, while the brides were examined to ensure they were not pregnant, aligning with Islamic marital requirements.
The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, represented by the Magajin Garin Gwandu, Alhaji Aminullahi Umar, acted as the Waliy (guardian) for the brides.
The Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity to Governor Nasir said: “National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, served at the wedding fatiha as the Wakil (representative) for the grooms, facilitating the marriage contracts.”
It also added that: “Governor Idris lauded his wife, Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris, for organisng the event through her NANAS Foundation.
Governor Idris announced plans for an even larger mass wedding next year as part of his administration’s commitment to social welfare.
The government provided each couple with complete room furniture, including beds, beddings, and household utensils as a family start up package.
The Kebbi State First Lady, Hajiya Nafisa Idris, also donated N20,000 to each couple, totalling N12 million as well as Hon. Bello Dallatun Ka’oje, Member of the House of Representatives for Suru/Bagudo Constituency, who complemented this donation.
The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu, contributed N50,000 to each couple—N30,000 for the grooms and N20,000 for the brides—amounting to N15 million.
The marriage rites were performed by prominent Islamic clerics and Islamic scholars including Sheikh Mukhtar Abdullahi, Walin Gwandu, Mallam Ahmad S/Fawa, Mallam Muhammadu Yahaya, Professors Mansur Isah Yelwa, Mansur Ibrahim, Sheikh Abdurrahman Isa Jega, and Mallam Ahmad Tijjani of the Dariqa movement amongst others delivered sermons.
They urged the couples to practice love, perseverance, loyalty, trust, justice, and sincerity in their marriages.
In a vote of thanks, the Chairman of the Organising Committee, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, who is also the National Organising Secretary of APC, expressed gratitude to Governor Idris and his wife for their support.
Alhaji Argungu who expressed joy that the committee had learned from past mass weddings said, “We have had a smooth event this time because we learned from previous mass weddings.”
The APC National Secretary, Hon. Ajibola Basiru, Senator Bagudu, the immediate past Governor of Kebbi State, all praised the initiative and commended Governor Idris and Hajiya Nafisa for uplifting the lives of the couples.
