In a significant development, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has lent her support to a mass wedding initiative in Niger State, reversing her initial opposition to the event.
The mass wedding, which is set to take place on Friday, is being sponsored by the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji. It aims to provide for the marriage of 100 orphaned girls in the state.
Initially, the minister had voiced concerns over the legality of the mass wedding, citing potential violations of the Child Rights Act. However, after visiting Niger State and engaging with the organizers, her stance has now shifted.
During her visit, the minister, represented by her Special Assistant on Private Sector, Adaji Usman, announced a range of support measures for the young brides-to-be. This includes scholarships up to the university level, the provision of 10 Point of Sale machines, 100 wrappers, and 350 bags of 10kg rice.
Furthermore, the Emir of Kontagora, Mohammed Muazu, has pledged to donate a sewing machine to each of the 100 girls. The minister also directed that bank accounts be opened for the brides, with a stipend to be sent to them for the next six months to help them settle into their new homes.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the minister acknowledged the initial misunderstanding surrounding the mass wedding, stating that her intention was not to stop the event but to ensure the girls were of marriageable age and not being forced into it.
“Every parent will want to marry out her wards if they attain the right age for marriage,” Kennedy-Ohanenye explained. She promised that the girls would be closely monitored in their husbands’ homes to ensure the objectives of the empowerment scheme are met.
The Speaker, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, expressed regret that the initiative had been politicized, stating that his intent was to genuinely support the marriage of these girls, many of whom are orphans due to the ongoing security challenges in the region.
The endorsement from the Minister of Women Affairs, as well as the support from the Emir of Kontagora, has provided a significant boost to the mass wedding, which aims to uplift the lives of these young women in Niger State.
