The Kano State Hisbah Board, on Monday, said the sum of N1.5billion has been earmarked for the conduct of the forthcoming mass wedding for 1,500 couples in the state.
News Agency of Nigeria, NAN, reports that the Commander General of the board, Sheikh Aminu Ibrahim-Daurawa disclosed this while briefing newsmen in Kano ahead of the wedding.
Ibrahim-Daurawa said the preparation were on top gear as it has subjected the couples to screening of HIV test, hepatitis B, pregnancy test and genotype.
He said the initiative was one of the campaign promises of the Governor, Abba Kabir-Yusuf during his campaign exercise.
The Commander General said the board will ensure the couples are compatible, healthy and the groom has a work doing and can provide accommodation for the wedding ceremony.
Ibrahim-Daurawa said the government will give each groom the sum of N100,000 for onward presentation as dowry to their brides.
He said the government will also support the brides with a token of N100,000 as empowerment to start up a business.
“Government will expend N1 million on each couples totaling N1.5 billion.
“Each groom will be given the sum of N100,000 for dowry to their brides, N100,000 token for the brides as empowerment and also provide them with beds, mattress, furnitures and food items.
“5,000 applied for the programme. A total of 3,000 are to benefit from the initiative, 1,500 couples.
“We have conducted test for 2,000 couples. They were subjected to HIV test, hepatitis B, pregnancy test and genotype.
“Whoever engage in the Mass wedding cannot divorce the wife without the consent of the board.
“We will carry out followup with the previous mass wedding for the blessings,” Ibrahim-Daurawa said.
Similarly, the Command Director General, Abba Sufi, while shedding more light said the board will organize seminar for the couples on regulations pertaining marriages.
He said the initiative stands to address social ills such as social problems, adultery and spread of diseases.
“The social problem is you have to provide these because of the economy hardship, a lot of people cannot afford it and you find them postponing the wedding.
“The initiative will reduce the number of adultery. A woman and divorcee stays without a man they can go beyond Islamic rules.
“It also reduces the spread of diseases,” Sufi however said.
Meanwhile, a date is expected to be announced for the event in the state.