Kano State Governor, Abba Yusuf and former governor Rabiu Kwankwaso on Saturday joined 1,800 couples in a mass wedding ceremony held simultaneously across the state’s 44 local government areas.

The wedding was organized by the Kano State Hisbah Board, a religious police force established to enforce Islamic law in the state. The couples were selected from across the state, and the wedding was free of charge to all participants.

At the ceremony in Kano city, Kwankwaso stood as the trustee for the brides, while Governor Yusuf stood as the trustee for the grooms. The governor also paid the uniform N50,000 bride price on behalf of each of the grooms and promised additional N20,000 as economic empowerment for the brides.

In his remarks at the wedding, Kwankwaso advised the couples to live in peace and harmony, and to avoid checking each other’s phones. He said that this would help to avert marriage breakups.

Governor Yusuf also congratulated the couples, and urged them to build strong and lasting relationships. He said that the mass wedding was part of the state government’s efforts to promote social cohesion and reduce poverty.

Mass weddings are a common practice in Nigeria, particularly in northern states with large Muslim populations. Observers say they are seen as a way to reduce the cost of marriage, which can be a major financial burden for many families.

Meanwhile one of the eye witnesses of the recent ceremony described the event as a political move.

“In the case of the Kano mass wedding, the event was also significant for its political undertones. Kwankwaso is a popular and influential figure in Kano politics, and his presence at the wedding was seen as a sign of support for Governor Yusuf. The wedding was also seen as a way for Kwankwaso to maintain his political base in the state”, he said.

Additionally, Governor Yusuf bought furniture, clothing materials and food items as gifts for the newly weds.