As part of measures to reduce single parenthood in society, the Kebbi State Government, together with the Arugungu Emirate, has married off 100 widows and divorced women in a mass wedding ceremony held at the palace of the Emir of Argungu.
Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu paid N20,000 each as bride price, while his wife Dr. Zainab Shinkafi Bagudu gave 30,000 each to the bride for them to be self-employed in their respective homes.
The Kebbi Government also donated furniture and kitchen utensils worth N150,000 to each couple, with Commissioner of Justice Hajiya Ramatu Gulma also donating one wrapper material to each couples.
The ceremony was the first kind of its kind in Arugungu Emirate, aiming to provide stable homes and social security to divorcées and widows.
Speaking shortly after the wedding Governor Bagudu commended the effort of the Emir and the local government for their initiatives to marry off the affected women, stressing that they must respect the marriage institution as a way to reduce the rate of single women in society.
“We must start to respect the marriage institution in our society. These women are moving into their second marriages with their husbands. [And] we will continue to conduct the weddings in batches,” he said.
The Emir of Argungu Alhaji Samila Mera also commended the State Government and Argungu local government for their in organising the mass wedding.
”We are trying to provide women with stable homes and financial and social security,” he said.
