Ganduje said that the gesture was aimed at further reducing the problems associated with the high number of unmarried youths in the state. The governor urged the new couples to uphold the trust reposed in them by the state government.
He also appealed to wealthy individuals to complement the efforts of the state government. Ganduje said that the couples were selected and screened from each of the 44 Local Government Areas (LGAs) of the state.
“The beneficiaries were selected from each of the 44 LGAs of the state by the committee shouldered with the responsibilities of selecting and screening eligible beneficiaries,’’ he said. He noted that more than N300 million was spent by the state government to sponsor the weddings, including the provision of complete sets of beds, side mirrors, wardrobes and mattresses that would all be provided, to each couple.
Ganduje said that the state government would pay N20,000 dowry for the couples and N10,000 as start-up capital to each bride. He said that medical tests, including HIV/AIDS test, were conducted on the couples in order to ascertain their genuine health status before the marriage. Speaking at the occasion, Sanusi II, commended the state government for the gesture.
The Emir also decried the prevalence of obnoxious traditions, preventing some youths from getting married. He urged them to uphold the trust and confidence reposed in them and try and live in line with the Islamic injunctions.
The Emir also urged the grooms to treat their wives kindly and reminded them that Islam forbade beating or abusing marriage partners. Ali Habu and Aminu Bala, who spoke on behalf of the couples, commended the state government for the gesture.
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