The Kebbi State Government has commenced preparations to sponsor a mass wedding for 300 couples in the state scheduled for Feb. 27.
The Chairman of the Organising Committee, Alhaji Suleiman Argungu, told newsmen on Sunday in Birnin Kebbi that the wedding is organised in collaboration with an NGO, Nafisa Nasir Charity Development Foundation (NANAS).
He said that various committees had been set up with specific tasks such as pregnancy test, genotype test, HIV/AIDS tests, and other lawful prerequisites for marriages in the state.
Argungu said that the mass wedding was in fulfilment of a promise made by Gov. Nasir Idris during the last mass wedding that it would be held periodically to assist the less privileged to get married.
“The administration of Gov. Idris is going to provide N180,000 as a dowry for each bride from the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.
“Other additional items will be provided such as room furniture and foodstuffs to all the couples to consolidate their marital relationship.
“The wedding will be solemnised after wide consultations with Islamic scholars in consonance with the practice of the Noble Prophet of Islam, Muhammad (SAW),” Argungu said.