Sokoto Mass Wedding - Screening Attracts the Young and Old

Sokoto — Females and males of different ages in their clusters waited unwearyingly as the screening for the mass wedding in Sokoto was to be conducted.

The screening which held last week at the Youth Development Centre in the state capital saw over 140 prospective couples being screened. Interestingly, the exercise attracted both the young and the old.

Many who witnessed the screening commended the maturity with which most of the youths conducted themselves during the occasion.

The event which was organized by the Sokoto State Ministry of Youths /Sports Development and Sunnah Marriage Mediation Association of Nigeria, Sokoto State branch, received applaud from many of those willing to engage in the marriage.

Under the programme, the state government is to provide dowry for the males and empower them while the females are to be given what they need for the marriage.

"I came here for the purpose of the mass wedding. I heard it over the radio that the state government will assist people willing to get married. By the grace of Allah, I hope to get a suitable wife I will love and protect," Abubakar Hassan, one of those who took part in the Sunnah marriage stated.

Muhammad Bello is also among those who came for screening. He lauded the programme, saying it would assist them greatly in settling into a reasonable marital life.

Another prospective husband stated: "I am happy and eager to get a wife because of God. I want God to choose for me."

Yet another male added, "my hope is to get a woman to marry. Inshaa Allah; I will treat her as expected, because there is no other longing I have now other than to get married."

Likewise one of the would-be wives asserted "I want God to give me a good husband."

Another female stated: "the idea of participating in mass wedding is better than engaging in fornication; this programme is commendable as it can help curb fornication and adultery in the society. May Allah reward the state government."

However, leader of women seeking to be married, Hajiya Kulu Mai Angwa Baba Ladi has these words of caution especially for the men: "any man who would get wife here should be thankful to God and hold her very well in accordance with the dictates of Islam. They should not look down on the women, because of the way they got them and should not insult them."

By Rakiya A. Muhammad