Kebbi mass wedding: Ganduje , Bagudu presents N54m dowries of 300 couples

 

By Samaila Bayo, Birnin Kebbi 

The National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Atiku Bagudu and other notable figures on Thursday presented N180,000 dowries amounting to N54m to 300 couples joined in the mass wedding sponsored by the Kebbi State Government.

The APC national chairman who stood in for the grooms as the Wakil (representative) sought for consummating the holy union from the guardian. The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Atiku Bagudu, gave each couple N50,000 and additional twenty thousand for the bride, amounting to N15m.

Kebbi State Governor, Nasir Idris presided over the mass wedding after the 300 couples were subjected to genotype tests, while the women were examined to ensure that they are pregnant-free, prelude to the solemnisation of the marriage.

He commended his wife, Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris, for organizing the mass wedding under her pet project, NANAS Foundation, sponsored by the government. At the wedding ceremony which took place at the palace of Emir Gwandu' in Birnin Kebbi, the governor announced that broader mass marriage would be held next year as part of social responsibility of his administration.

The Emir of Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, represented by the Magajin Garin Gwandu, Alhaji Aminullahi Umar, served as the Waliy (Guardian) to the brides who gave  them out in marriage.

In addition, the wife of the governor donated N20, 000 to each husband and wife, totalling N12 m, with similar donation by the member, House of Representatives, Suru/Bagudo Constituency, Hon. Bello Dallatun Ka'oje.

Islamic Clerics who solemnised the marriage were the Chief Imam of the Central Mosque, Birnin Kebbi, Sheikh Mukhtar Abdullahi Walin Gwandu, Mallam Ahmad S/Fawa, the Imam of Jokolo Mosque and Mallam Muhammadu Yahaya, the Imam of Wala Jumu'a Mosque, Birnin Kebbi.

Sets of room furniture, including beds and beddings, household utensils were provided to each couple by the government free.