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Around 1,500 couples tied the knot in a mass wedding organised by the government of Kano state in northern Nigeria, in a programme aimed at supporting low-income families and promoting social stability.
The two-day event, led by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, is part of a broader social initiative to help financially struggling individuals start families. “The whole idea… is to help our families and those of us who are not financially stable to marry,” groom Abubakar Aliyu Musa told the Associated Press.
This marks the second mass wedding organised under Yusuf’s administration.
According to officials, each bride received a dowry of 200,000 naira (about $147), along with support to launch small businesses. Couples were also provided with essential household items, including beds, mattresses and blankets. All participants underwent screening and counselling prior to the ceremony.
Governor Yusuf described the programme as a “bold social intervention” designed to restore hope and promote dignified family life. He said it aims not only to assist women who might otherwise struggle to afford marriage but also to strengthen families across the state.
The event also included individuals affected by violence in the region. Among them was Haruna Bashir, who lost his wife and six children in an earlier attack. Officials said the marriage marked a step toward helping him rebuild his life after the tragedy.
Nigeria has faced prolonged security challenges, particularly in the north, where communities are frequently targeted by Islamist insurgents and criminal gangs. Kidnappings for ransom, including abductions of schoolchildren, remain a major concern.
In a separate development, authorities recently announced the release of 308 people who had been abducted, highlighting ongoing efforts to address the crisis.