Jigawa First Lady Marries Off 300 Orphans

Wife of the Jigawa State governor, Hajiya Dr. Amina Umar Namadi (Garkiwan Marayu), has initiated and sponsored a mass wedding of over 300 orphan girls from across the 27 local government areas of the state.

The initiative is part of commitment to the welfare of vulnerable and less privileged people in the state, promoting cultural values, moral discipline and strengthening the family institution for building an ideal society.

According to the state Hisbah commander, Sheikh Dr Hafiz Bashir, the beneficiaries were selected based on established criteria with support from the immediate community.

He noted that the couples were already in love with each other when she decided to intervene and facilitate the marriage.

“We are all aware of the current economic downturn in the country, and the condition is more difficult among rural dwellers, while orphan girls become more vulnerable. This initiative has really ameliorated their social plight,” he said.

According to him, orientation and lectures were organised for the couples at different centers, while the wedding fatiha was conducted after presenting medical certificates for both parties, in accordance with Islamic Sharia law and the Jigawa State Marriage Act.

In her speech, Hajiya Dr. Amina Umar Namadi said the initiative was made out of compassion for vulnerable girls and the difficulties mothers face in marrying off their orphan daughters.

“We took responsibility for sponsoring the marriage, including the dowry, the furniture and other logistics. We also offered a token amount of money as empowerment to the young couples for them to start a petty business or even goat rearing,” she said.

She urged the newlyweds to continue to show love, compassion and sympathy to each other and to live a happy married life according to the spiritual and cultural norms as guided by the Sharia law of the society.

She reiterated her commitment to continuing projects and programs that will improve the lives of women, the vulnerable, and the less privileged, to complement the efforts of her husband, Governor Umar Namadi, in his quest to make Jigawa a happy society for all.

Thousands of family members, friends, and well-wishers gathered at the banquet hall of the Government House in Dutse to witness the ceremony and the distribution of the empowerment grants to the newlyweds.