Kano Mass Wedding Open To Muslims, Christians – Official
The Deputy Commander of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Mujahideen Aminuddeen, says the state’s mass wedding programme is open to both Muslims and Christians who are interested in participating.
According to him, three Christian couples participated in the last mass wedding conducted in October 2023.
He said preparations were ongoing for the next edition but noted that he could not yet confirm whether any Christian couples had indicated interest in participating.
Aminuddeen said the mass wedding, now known as “Auren Gata,” meaning “marriage for the privileged,” is open to widows, widowers, divorcees, spinsters and bachelors.
According to him, the programme is playing a key role in strengthening families and reducing immorality in the state.
He said one of the major objectives of the programme was to fulfil Prophet Muhammad’s (SAW) injunction encouraging Muslims to marry and raise families.
According to him, the initiative also curbs street hawking by girls seeking money for marriage expenses while reducing immoral behaviour associated with delayed marriages caused by financial hardship.
Aminuddeen said the administration of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf was particularly targeting orphans and underprivileged families that could not afford to marry off their daughters, noting that all beneficiaries were selected after screening and verification.
A stakeholder, Sheikh Muhammad Lawan-Yakub, described the initiative as commendable, saying it would strengthen families, protect young people from immoral behaviour and contribute to social stability.
He expressed confidence that the counselling, screening and post-marriage guidance provided by the board would enhance the success of the marriages and reduce divorce rates.
A Kano resident, Jamila Suraja, said the programme had benefited many vulnerable families and urged beneficiaries to approach marriage with sincerity.
She, however, expressed concern that some couples in previous batches allegedly entered the marriages mainly to access government support rather than build lasting families.
Another resident, Hassan Maikadara, said the initiative had created opportunities for many men and women who wished to marry but lacked the financial means.
He added that it would help many young people protect themselves from immoral acts.
An economist, Dr Abdulsalam Kani, said the initiative had the potential to boost economic activities in the state if properly implemented.
Kani said the initiative, through the empowerment of beneficiaries, would translate into poverty reduction, one of the major root causes of the high rate of divorce.
“As part of the initiative, the government will empower beneficiaries. The empowerment will assist in reducing poverty and unemployment.
“One of the major root causes of rampant divorce in the northern part of Nigeria is poverty. You cannot get married if you don’t have a means of livelihood.
“We need to understand that empowerment will only succeed if those who are going to be empowered have a particular skill or are engaged in a particular trade.”
Dr Muhammad Hadi-Musa, a sociologist, said the initiative should be evaluated not only as a ceremonial or welfare programme but also as a broader social development strategy.
“The mass wedding initiative sponsored by the Kano State Government has become one of the most visible social intervention programmes in Northern Nigeria.
“The current Governor, Abba Yusuf, like his predecessors, has demonstrated commitment to Sharia implementation through initiatives such as facilitating marriages.
“At its core, the mass wedding programme reflects a public policy response to social realities.”
According to him, by providing basic support packages, government intervention helps low-income individuals formalise relationships that might otherwise remain delayed.
“Kano has arguably recorded several visible gains from such programmes. The initiative has helped normalise simpler and more affordable wedding models, challenging excessive ceremonial spending that often delays marriage.
“It has also reinforced the idea that public institutions can participate in family-support policies rather than limiting interventions to infrastructure and economic sectors alone.
“In addition, the programme has generated public conversations around responsible marriage and family values,” Hadi-Musa said.
Speaking recently on the forthcoming mass wedding, for which a date is yet to be fixed, the Commander-General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, said the Kano State Government had earmarked N1.5 billion for the programme, which will cater for 1,500 couples.
Daurawa said preparations were at an advanced stage, with prospective couples undergoing HIV and other medical tests.
He said the board would ensure that couples were compatible and healthy, and that every groom had a means of livelihood and suitable accommodation for the bride.
Daurawa said the government would give each groom N100,000 to present as dowry to his bride.
He added that each bride would also receive N100,000 as empowerment capital to start a business after marriage.
“The government will spend N1 million on each couple, totalling N1.5 billion.
“Each groom will be given the sum of N100,000 for dowry to their brides, N100,000 as empowerment for the brides, while the government will also provide beds, mattresses, furniture and food items.
“About 5,000 people applied for the programme. A total of 3,000 beneficiaries, representing 1,500 couples, will benefit from the initiative.”
He said the couples would undergo HIV, hepatitis B, pregnancy and genotype tests.
According to him, anyone who participates in the mass wedding programme cannot divorce his wife without the consent of the board.
