Kano State government has earmarked N1.5 billion for the sponsorship of a mass wedding involving 1,500 couples as part of efforts to support the underprivileged and discourage immorality in the state.
The commandant-general of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, disclosed this yesterday during a briefing of journalists on the preparations for the programme.
Daurawa said the board had received about 5,000 applications from intending couples, adding that only 3,000 individuals, comprising 1,500 brides and grooms, would be selected for the exercise.
He explained that the beneficiaries would be drawn from poor and vulnerable backgrounds, noting that the initiative was designed to assist young people who may not have the financial capacity to establish their homes.
According to him, the state government, under the leadership of Governor Abba Yusuf, would provide each couple with bedding, food items, clothing materials, N100,000 for dowry, and an additional N100,000 in empowerment support for the bride.
He added that about N1m was expected to be spent on each couple under the programme, covering various support packages aimed at ensuring the success of their marriages.
The Hisbah boss further said the board would ensure that prospective grooms had accommodation and a means of livelihood before they were allowed to participate in the wedding.
He noted that the couples would undergo premarital screening, including genotype tests, pregnancy tests, HIV/AIDS screening and hepatitis B tests, among others, to promote healthy marriages.
On the date of the mass wedding, Daurawa said Governor Yusuf would announce that all arrangements had been completed.
He also cautioned beneficiaries against unnecessary marital breakdowns, stressing that couples would be required to consult the Hisbah Board before taking steps towards divorce after the wedding.
Daurawa advised intending couples to undergo proper medical screening and seek guidance before courtship to reduce challenges associated with marital incompatibility.