The Zamfara State Government has sponsored the wedding of 200 vulnerable women — including orphans, widows and those from low-income homes — as part of its 2025 social welfare programme overseen by the Zakkat and Endowment Board.
The event, held on Monday, concluded the board’s fourth-quarter initiatives, which also included debt relief, business grants, poultry training and digital literacy support.
Zamfara’s First Lady, Huriyya Dauda Lawal, said the mass wedding reflects the government’s commitment to improving the lives of disadvantaged groups. She added that her office provided household items to help the newlyweds begin their marriages with dignity.
“For the fourth quarter alone, the board rolled out multiple interventions,” Mrs Lawal said. “We assisted individuals with debt cases in Shari’ah courts and correctional centres, supported small-scale traders with ₦50,000 business grants, and provided poultry starter packs for trainees launching their ventures.”
Each bride received furniture, bedding and a ₦200,000 dowry as part of the support package.
The First Lady also revealed that 10 orphans and children from struggling homes were trained in basic computer skills and given mini laptops to aid their education.
Executive Secretary of the Zakkat and Endowment Board, Habib Balarabe, said the mass wedding is part of a broader strategy to reduce poverty and discourage street begging.
“This initiative targets the most vulnerable people in our state,” he said. “Beyond the wedding, we’re providing business support so families can become self-reliant instead of depending on handouts.”
One of the beneficiaries, 17-year-old Zainab Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the state government, stating she chose marriage over returning to school. “I’m very happy and grateful,” she said.
In addition to household items, each couple received ₦30,000 to support their new homes, while graduates of the poultry training programme were given starter kits to launch small-scale businesses.
