In a move that has captivated the nation, at least 100 young women, including many orphans, were married off in separate ceremonies in Nigeria following a wave of public outrage and legal intervention. Originally planned as a mass wedding event, the proceedings were altered after Women’s Affairs Minister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye intervened with a court order over concerns that some of the brides might be underage.
Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye initially halted the mass wedding, citing fears that some girls might be below the legal age of 18. However, after discussions with Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, the Speaker of the Niger State Assembly who supported the event, a compromise was reached. The young women were instead married in individual ceremonies, ensuring that each bride was of legal age.
“I did not intend to stop the marriage but to ensure the girls are of marriageable age and were not being forced into it,” Kennedy-Ohanenye clarified in a statement. The resolution required all participating women to meet the legal marriage age requirement.
To support the new brides, Minister Kennedy-Ohanenye announced that each would receive scholarships and a monthly stipend for the first six months of their marriages. This gesture aims to provide the young women with a foundation for a stable future amid the challenging circumstances many of them face.
Mallama Amina Mariga, a parent of one of the brides, expressed support for the revised arrangements. “The mass wedding was arranged to celebrate the young women uniformly and give them a sense of togetherness,” Mariga told the BBC. Families of the brides, including Mariga, received various items towards the weddings and dowries, such as beds and sewing machines, donated by politicians.
The context of these weddings is a grim one. Many of the brides have lost relatives to the violent attacks by armed bandits that plague north-western Niger State. These relentless assaults have left numerous young women without family support, making community and governmental backing crucial.
Credit: BBC News
