Kano State Governor, Alhaji Abba Kabir Yusuf, has urged newly wedded couples under the state’s mass wedding programme to be patient with one another and uphold justice, fairness, mutual respect and peaceful coexistence in their homes.
The Governor made the call during the reception and distribution of furniture and other support items to 1,500 newly married couples under the Kano State Government’s Auren Gata Mass Wedding Programme.
Governor Yusuf reminded the couples that marriage is an act of worship and urged them to build their matrimonial homes in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and the Sunnah of the Noble Prophet Muhammad, peace be upon him.
He said couples should respect one another and live together in peace, harmony and mutual understanding, stressing that patience and tolerance are essential for sustaining successful marriages.
The Governor explained that the Auren Gata programme was one of the key promises made by his administration during its campaign across the 44 Local Government Areas of the state ahead of the 2023 general elections.
He said the beneficiaries underwent comprehensive screening before the wedding, including medical examinations to ascertain their health status, marriage counselling by qualified professionals, as well as workshops and seminars organised by the Kano State Hisbah Board to prepare them for the responsibilities of married life.
Governor Yusuf disclosed that his administration had committed more than N1.5 billion to ensure the successful implementation of the programme and provide comprehensive support to the newly married couples.
According to him, the expenditure covered medical screening for all the brides and grooms to safeguard their health and that of their future children.
He added that each couple received N100,000 as dowry and another N100,000 as a capital grant to serve as seed capital for starting a business and promoting self-reliance.
The Governor said the state government also provided household furniture and essential items, including beds and mattresses, as well as food items and other commodities to cushion the economic challenges the couples might face during the early days of their marriage.
Earlier in his welcome remarks, the Commander-General of the Kano State Hisbah Board, Sheikh Dr Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, said the state’s mass wedding initiative had gained wide recognition within and outside Nigeria.
He noted that the programme was designed not only to support young couples financially but also to prepare them for the responsibilities and challenges of married life.
Some beneficiaries, including Haruna Bashir, Muhammad Tahir Amina Aminu and Aliyu Ibrahim, commended the Kano State Government for introducing the initiative.
They appealed to the government to extend the programme to enable more couples benefit from the mass wedding scheme.