Governor Nasir Idris of Kebbi State this Sunday, presided over the mass wedding of 300 couples in Birnin Kebbi with an advice to them to be friendly and confidants of each other .
The event which took place at the Palace of the Emir of Gwandu, was organised by the Nafisa Nasir Development Foundation, NANAS, founded by the wife of the Governor, Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris.
Represented by the Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Ankwe, the Governor announced that such mass wedding would be held periodically to assist less privileged men and women to be joined as husband and wife.
Comrade, Dr. Nasir Idris said his administration provided a total sum of twenty one million naira as dowry for the 300 brides from the 21 local Government Areas of the State, with each bride getting a dowry of N70,000.
Comrade Kauran Gwandu added that the administration also provided room furniture and foodstuffs to all the couples to consolidate on their marital relationship .
The Governor made it clear that the mass wedding has been solemnised after wide consultations with Islamic Scholars in consonance with the Practice of the Noble Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW), who authorised his followers to enter into marriage allegiances for the good of the society and bearing blessed offsprings.
Governor Nasir Idris advised all the couples to respect the institution of marriage, saying that the grooms must protect the rights and privileges of their wives while the brides must remain loyal and supportive to their husbands.
Comrade, Dr. Nasir Idris commended his wife, Hajiya Nafisa for striving hard to actualise the mass wedding which is the first of its kind in Kebbi State to reduce the number of divorcees and assist less privileged men to be married.
In her speech, the wife of the Governor, Hajiya Nafisa Nasir Idris who is also the founder of NANAS FOUNDATION, expressed immense appreciation to her husband for providing the necessary moral and material support that made the mass wedding possible.
She advised the couples to respect one another as well as protect individual rights and privileges between husband and wife.
Hajiya Nafisa informed the married couples that her foundation in collaboration Kebbi State Government would teach them skill acquisition on various trades to enable them engage in profitable ventures for self reliance.
The wife of the Governor announced that before the wedding took place, all the couples were screened of Health issues and found to be in sound state of health.
She thanked all stakeholders involved in the organisation of the event, specifically mentioning the Chairman of the main organising committee, Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, Jarman Kabi, and the guest preacher Shiekh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa from Kano State for their invaluable contribution to the success of the event.
The Chairman, organising committee, former Deputy Governor of Kebbi State, now the National Organising Secretary of the APC ,Alhaji Suleiman Muhammad Argungu, announced that the 300 couples joined in wedlock were selected from all the 21 local Government Areas of the State based on Islamic jurisprudence.
He said the government provided cash for dowry for each bride as well as room furniture and foodstuffs which have all been deployed to the headquarters of each local Government Area where each bride would receive her dowry and other materials for both husband and wife.
Islamic Scholars comprising of the Director General, Hisbah Board, Kano,Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim Daurawa, Professor Mansur Isah Yelwa,Sheikh Mustapha Yawale Jega,Sheikh Abubakar Yusuf Yauri, Sarkin Malaman Yauri and Sheikh Umar Isah Magaji, enlightened the gathering on the commandments of the Noble Prophet, SAW, on marital relationship between husband and wife which must be adhered to.
The Islamic clerics prayed Allah to reward Governor Nasir Idris and his wife,Hajiya Nafisa for embarking on the noble venture of mass wedding which has an impact to reduce immorality and cleanse the society.
The Emir Gwandu, Alhaji Muhammad Iliyasu Bashar who served as the Waliy, ( Guardian) to all the 300 brides gave out their hand in marriage with prayers for blissful married life.
Governor Nasir Idris represented by the Speaker of the State Assembly, Rt. Hon. Muhammad Usman Ankwe served as the Wakil (Representative) to all the 300 grooms,accepted the terms and conditions of marriage as prescribed by Islam.
Among important personalities who accompanied the wife of the governor to the venue of the event, were the wife of the Deputy Governor, Hajiya Maryam Umar-Tafida and the wife of Minister of State for Education,Hajiya Maryam Sununu.
