Community Marriage In Kebbi: A Social Investment Program

By Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu

In recent years, the practice of community marriages, popularly known as Auren Gata or mass weddings—has become an increasingly important social intervention in several Nigerian states, including Kebbi. Through the Nanas Foundation, the Wife of the Governor of Kebbi State, Her Excellency Hajiya Nafisa Idris, has partnered with the state government to organise and support these mass wedding programmes.
The initiative consistently attracts widespread public attention and debate. Unfortunately, much of the discussion is driven by assumptions, misinformation, and sensational narratives rather than a genuine understanding of the cultural traditions, economic realities, and Islamic values that underpin the programme. As a result, its many positive outcomes are often overshadowed.

Not a New Tradition

Community marriage is not a recent innovation. Traditional rulers across Northern Nigeria have long supported marriages for those who could not afford the associated costs. Today, governments, philanthropists, civil society organisations, and charitable foundations have expanded this tradition into structured social investment programmes.

In Kebbi State, applicants are drawn from all 21 local government areas through a screening process. Successful couples receive comprehensive support, including premarital health screening, enrolment in the State Health Insurance Scheme, payment of dowry (sadaki), wedding attire (lefe), household furniture, start-up business equipment, and cash grants to help them begin married life.

Critics often focus on issues such as beneficiary selection, programme costs, or competing development priorities. While these concerns deserve consideration, they should be weighed alongside the programme’s broader social and economic benefits.

Marriage Strengthens Society

Strong marriages are the foundation of stable families, and strong families are the building blocks of prosperous societies. When husbands and wives support one another with love, patience, responsibility, and mutual respect, children are more likely to grow up in healthy environments where moral values are nurtured and opportunities are expanded.

Families built on cooperation and shared responsibility are better positioned to plan for the future, raise productive citizens, reduce social problems, and contribute meaningfully to community development. In this sense, supporting marriage is also an investment in long-term social stability.

Economic Benefits
Marriage is often one of the largest financial commitments a family undertakes. According to estimates by the National Bureau of Statistics, even a modest wedding in Northern Nigeria can cost between N2 million and N6 million when expenses such as the bride price (sadaki), bridal trousseau (lefe), the wedding ceremony (fatiha), accommodation, furniture, and household essentials are provided.

Ordinarily, these costs are borne by the groom, his family, the bride’s family, and extended relatives. By bringing together hundreds of couples under one programme, economies of scale significantly reduce costs while allowing government, philanthropists, and civil society organisations to provide coordinated support.

Beyond reducing immediate financial burdens, the programme also equips newly married couples with start-up capital and business tools. This empowers them to become economically productive from the outset, creating households capable of generating income, supporting their families, and contributing to the wider state economy.

Strong families, therefore, strengthen both society and economic development.

The Religious Perspective

Marriage occupies a central place in Islam, as it does in other major religions, including Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, which together account for about 70% of the world’s population. Islam encourages marriage as a means of preserving faith, promoting social stability, and strengthening families.

The marital relationship is founded upon mawaddah (love), rahmah (mercy), trust, modesty, and mutual respect. The Qur’an beautifully describes spouses as “garments for one another” (Qur’an 2:187), symbolising protection, comfort, closeness, and dignity.

Islam also teaches that discussions about marriage and family should be approached with wisdom, fairness, and respect. Cultural practices should be evaluated through the lens of authentic Islamic teachings rather than through prejudice or ridicule.

Similarly, the Bible upholds the sanctity of marriage in many passages. The verse, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labour. For if they fall, one will lift up the other” (Ecclesiastes 4:9–10), speaks to the value of marriage as a partnership that strengthens and supports both individuals. Indeed, mass weddings have also been practised within Christian communities for many years.

Preserving Kebbi’s Traditions

Kebbi State is renowned for its hospitality, strong family values, respect for elders, and commitment to Islamic principles. Marriage has always been regarded not merely as the union of two individuals but as the coming together of two families whose relationship often extends across generations.

For many families, marriage remains one of life’s highest priorities. Indeed, after food, financial support for marriage is among the most common forms of assistance sought from community leaders, philanthropists, and public officials.

While public attention naturally focuses on ceremonies involving hundreds of couples, less visible is the continuous effort of traditional rulers, religious leaders, philanthropists, and government officials who receive countless requests every year to help individuals marry.

Mass marriage programmes simply organise this longstanding tradition into a transparent, coordinated, and equitable system.

Health Benefits

One of the programme’s greatest strengths is its emphasis on preventive healthcare.
Before qualifying, prospective couples undergo comprehensive premarital screening for infectious diseases such as HIV and hepatitis, genotype compatibility, and substance abuse. Couples are also enrolled in the Kebbi State Health Insurance Scheme.

These interventions improve public health, reduce preventable health complications within families, and provide access to healthcare that many beneficiaries might otherwise be unable to afford.

Social Stability and Security

Stable family structures contribute positively to social cohesion. Research in many societies has shown that married individuals often experience better physical and mental well-being, stronger social support networks, and greater economic stability.

Community marriage programmes also provide young couples with legitimate opportunities to build stable households through financial support, health services, and entrepreneurship assistance. Such interventions may reduce vulnerability to poverty, social exclusion, and certain forms of antisocial behaviour.

While marriage alone is not a solution to insecurity or crime, strengthening families remains one important component of broader social development and community resilience.

A Call for Understanding

No public programme is without challenges. There have been instances where individuals attempted to manipulate the system by presenting fraudulent relationships solely to obtain benefits. Such abuses should be addressed through stronger screening, monitoring, and accountability mechanisms rather than being used to dismiss the entire initiative.

In Kebbi State, efforts have been made to ensure transparency and enhance credibility. A central organising committee, headed by His Excellency Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammad Argungu, OFR—Jarman Kebbi, APC National Organising Secretary, Chairman of the Nigeria Bulk Electricity Trading Company, and former Deputy Governor—oversees the programme.

Each local government area also has its own screening committee responsible for identifying eligible beneficiaries.

Constructive criticism should always be welcomed, as it helps improve public policy. However, criticism should be based on evidence rather than misinformation or social media speculation.

Kebbi’s rich cultural heritage deserves to be understood rather than misrepresented. Every tradition should be examined with fairness, wisdom, and factual evidence not through mockery, propaganda, or stereotypes.

As preparations continue for another round of community marriages in Kebbi State, I commend His Excellency Governor Nasir Idris, Her Excellency Hajiya Nafisa Idris, the Nanas Foundation, and all those who have contributed to making the initiative possible.

Let us choose understanding over assumption, knowledge over ignorance, and unity over division. By strengthening families, preserving our cultural values, and remaining guided by the noble teachings of Islam, we can continue building stronger communities and a more prosperous Kebbi State.

May Allah (SWT) grant us wisdom, strengthen our families, bless our communities, and continue to grant Kebbi State and Nigeria peace, unity, and prosperity. Ameen.
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Dr. Zainab Shinkafi-Bagudu
Former First Lady of Kebbi State,
President of the Union for International Cancer Control (UICC),
Founder/CEO of the Medicaid Cancer Foundation