The Kano State Government has directed the State Hisba Board to begin preparations for the wedding of no fewer than 2,000 couples under its mass wedding programme aimed at promoting social welfare and curbing immoral practices in the state.
The directive, according to the board’s Deputy Commander-General, Sheikh Mujahid Aminudeen, was issued by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, who reintroduced the programme to support widows, divorcees, and spinsters facing financial challenges in getting married.
Speaking with PUNCH on Thursday, Sheikh Aminudeen confirmed that preparations were already underway to ensure the smooth conduct of the mass wedding.
“We are planning to conduct a mass wedding of another batch of 2,000 couples as directed by the state government under the leadership of Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf,” he said.
Although the date for the ceremony has not been fixed, Aminudeen assured that the board would follow due process to guarantee transparency and fairness throughout the exercise.
The Hisba official disclosed that all prospective couples must undergo medical screening before being allowed to participate in the mass wedding.
He said the health checks would include HIV/AIDS tests, Hepatitis screening, genotype verification, and drug use assessment, among others, adding that any candidate who fails to comply would be automatically disqualified.
“All prospective couples interested in the wedding must register before participating in the state-planned mass wedding,” he said.
“The medical screening is also part of the prerequisite arrangement of the mass wedding proceedings, and it’s compulsory because anybody who fails to present himself or herself for the screening will be automatically disqualified.”
Governor Yusuf’s administration reintroduced the mass wedding scheme as part of efforts to support low-income families, especially widows, divorcees, and spinsters whose parents are unable to afford the cost of marriage.
The initiative, which was suspended in previous administrations, has been revived to promote moral values, reduce prostitution, and curb other social vices prevalent among young people and vulnerable women in the state.
According to government officials, the mass wedding programme is designed not only to encourage family stability but also to uphold Islamic principles regarding marriage in the predominantly Muslim state.
The Hisba Board will supervise the entire process, from registration and screening to the official wedding ceremony, ensuring that all participants meet the required conditions before being joined in matrimony.
“This initiative will continue to serve as a moral and social intervention,” Sheikh Aminudeen said.
“It reflects the government’s commitment to reducing social problems while supporting the less privileged in fulfilling a major aspect of life.”
The Kano State mass wedding scheme, first introduced over a decade ago, has seen thousands of couples married off with government sponsorship covering expenses such as dowries, wedding attire, and household items.
