Nigeria’s Kano State hosted a mass wedding for 1,500 couples under the Auren Gata programme, with the initiative providing marriage support, medical screening, counselling and household assistance…reports Africa Daily News Desk
Kano State hosted a mass wedding for 1,500 couples on Saturday as the state government and Kano Hisbah Board launched an initiative aimed at supporting families and promoting social stability.
Katsina State Governor and Chairman of the Northwest Governors’ Forum, Dikko Umaru Radda, attended the Auren Gata programme and said governments had a responsibility to support citizens and improve community wellbeing.
Radda described the initiative as a community-focused programme designed to help families establish stable homes and respond to the needs of residents.
“When we took the oath of office, we pledged to serve the people and work for their well-being. Initiatives like this show that commitment in action,” he said.
The Katsina governor assured Kano State of the support of the Northwest Governors’ Forum and said programmes that promote family stability and social support were welcome across the region.
He also acknowledged the contributions of religious leaders, traditional rulers, business representatives and other stakeholders involved in the programme.
Radda commended Islamic scholars for providing guidance on marriage, family values, patience and mutual responsibility, saying such efforts supported people-centred government programmes.
He reaffirmed the commitment of Northwest governors to policies aimed at promoting development, peace and stability and congratulated the 1,500 couples.
Radda urged the newlyweds to build their marriages on love, patience, mutual respect and understanding.
Kano State Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf said the Auren Gata programme fulfilled his administration’s commitment to supporting families across the state’s 44 local government areas and 484 wards.
He said the state government had allocated resources for medical screening, marriage support and welfare packages for beneficiaries.
According to Yusuf, each couple received assistance towards dowry and business start-ups, as well as household items to help them establish their homes.
The beneficiaries also took part in counselling sessions, workshops and seminars designed to prepare them for married life.
Yusuf urged the couples to follow the teachings of the Holy Qur’an and Sunnah and to promote patience, fairness and peaceful coexistence within their families.
The event featured sermons and prayers by Islamic scholars including Sheikh Sani Yahaya Jingir, Sheikh Bashir Sheikh Dahiru Bauchi and Sheikh Kabir Haruna Gombe.
Several political and government officials attended the ceremony, including Jigawa State Governor Umar Namadi, Kebbi State Deputy Governor Umar Tafida and Sokoto State Deputy Governor Idris Mohammed Gobir.
Kano Deputy Governor Murtala Sule Garo, former Kano Governor Ibrahim Shekarau, APC National Organising Secretary Sulaiman Mohammed Argungu and Katsina Chief of Staff Abdulkadir Mamman Nasir were also present.
Federal and state lawmakers, members of the Katsina and Kano State executive councils, traditional rulers, religious leaders, business and diplomatic representatives, development partners, civil society organisations and security agencies also attended the event.
