Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, has addressed concerns surrounding his decision to sponsor the wedding ceremonies of approximately 100 girls from his constituency in the Mariga Local Government Area.
In a statement released on Sunday by his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications, Shamsudeen Binaira, the Speaker emphasized that the initiative aimed to support young women who have reached the marriage age but lack the financial means to fund their weddings.
Sarkindaji clarified that the beneficiaries of the sponsorship are primarily orphans or girls whose parents are unable to cover the expenses associated with traditional marriage ceremonies. He denied allegations that the young women were being coerced into marriage against their will.
According to Binaira, over 50% of the girls have suitors, but their parents lack the resources required by customary practices to finance their weddings. Additionally, many of the beneficiaries are orphans who have lost their parents due to insecurity in the area, leaving them without financial support for their marriage ceremonies.
In Hausa tradition, it is customary to provide essential items such as room furniture, kitchen utensils, and other necessities to accompany a bride to her husband’s house. Binaira explained that these girls lack these essential items, which the Speaker has committed to providing to relieve the financial burden on their parents.
Binaira emphasized that the decision to sponsor the weddings was made after extensive consultations, with the Speaker aiming to support vulnerable young women in his constituency and ensure they can enter marriage comfortably and with dignity.
The initiative has sparked controversy, with some questioning the Speaker’s motives. However, Binaira reiterated that the sponsorship aims to empower young women and alleviate the financial strain on their families, rather than coercing them into marriage.
