The Kano State Hisbah Board has revealed that the sum of N1.5billion has been earmarked for the conduct of the forthcoming mass wedding for 1,500 couples in the state.
This was disclosed by the Commander General of the board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa while briefing newsmen in Kano ahead of the wedding.
He revealed that the initiative was one of the campaign promises of Gov. Abba Kabir-Yusuf.
Daurawa said the board will ensure the couples are compatible, healthy and the groom has a job and can provide accommodation for the wedding ceremony.
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.
“The government will spend N1 million on each couple 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, furniture 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 tests for 2,000 individuals. They were subjected to HIV test, hepatitis B, pregnancy test and genotype,” Daurawa said.
According to him, whoever engages in the Mass wedding cannot divorce the wife without the consent of the board.
“We will carry out a followup with the previous mass wedding for the blessings,” Daurawa said.
Meanwhile, a date is expected to be announced for the event in the state.