Kano State government has said that it spent a whooping N278,269,990 to facilitate the wedding of 1,111 couples under the fourth phase of its divorcees, widows and spinsters mass marriage programme.
Kano State Governor Rabi’u Kwankwaso made this known at a civic reception organized by the state government for the new couples.
According to him, the money was used to procure furniture, textile materials, foodstuff as well as provide grants for the brides and other essential items.
Kwankwaaso who described the event as unprecedented in the history of the West African sub-region, further stressed that the marriage programme was initiated to help people strengthen the family institution and halt social crimes in the society, most of which were as a result of erosion of family values.
He maintained that his administration also initiated a special family orientation programme aimed at preventing and minimizing the rising cases of divorce in the state in addition to evolving capacity building programmes especially for women to enable them support their families.
The governor also signed the Street Begging Bill 2013, which prohibited children and adults from begging on the streets and other public places into law during the occasion.
Violation of the law and other laws against human trafficking would attract stiff penalties, according to the governor.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Commander–General of Kano Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, explained that 60 Christian couples were among those who were wedded.
Dignitaries present at the occasion include: the Emir of Ningi, Alhaji Haruna Muhammad Danyaya, who represented the Sultan of Sokoto, the representative of the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Abbas Sunusi, Shaikhs Dahiru Bauchi, Yusuf Sambo Rigachikun, Sheikh Abubakar bin Salah Al-Makki of Jam’iyyatul Birr Foundation of Saudi Arabia and Madame Ben Wahab Aichatou from Tattalin Iyali Foundation of Niger republic.
