The Zamfara State Government has organised a mass wedding for 200 widows, orphans, and underprivileged women as part of its 2025 social intervention programmes under the Zakat and Endowment Board. The event, held on Monday, November 24, also marked the conclusion of the board’s yearly activities, which included business grants, debt relief, poultry production training, and computer literacy programmes for vulnerable households. First Lady Huriyya Dauda Lawal said the mass wedding reflects the government’s commitment to empowering widows, orphans, and disadvantaged women. She added that her office provided support items to help the newly married couples start their homes with dignity. “For the fourth quarter of 2025, the Zakat Board has successfully implemented life-changing interventions, including support for 200 female orphans with essential household items like furniture, bedding, and a ₦200,000 dowry to help them begin their marital lives with respect and comfort,” she said. The First Lady further highlighted initiatives such as the settlement of debt cases in Shari’ah courts and correctional centres, giving deserving individuals “a second chance to regain freedom and rebuild their lives honourably.” She noted that 200 small-scale traders, many of them widows, caregivers, and orphans, received ₦50,000 business grants to strengthen their livelihoods. In addition, 100 beneficiaries were trained in poultry production and given starter packs, while 10 orphans and children from disadvantaged homes completed computer literacy courses and received mini-computers. “These efforts demonstrate our vision for a more empowered, self-reliant, and prosperous Zamfara State,” the First Lady said. Habib Balarabe, Executive Secretary of the Zamfara State Zakat and Endowment Board, explained that the mass wedding and related empowerment programmes are designed to support families lacking resources to establish stable homes. “We organise this event specifically for the less-privileged in Zamfara State. Beyond the weddings, we provide programmes to empower them at home, such as business start-up support,” he said, adding that the initiatives aim to reduce poverty and curb street begging. One of the brides, 17-year-old Zainab Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the state government. Though not an orphan, she said she chose marriage over continuing school. “Honestly, I thank Almighty God and Prophet Mohammed, may the peace of God be with him. I am very happy. I am not an orphan. Honestly, I prefer marriage to going to school,” she said. Each newly married couple received furniture and a cash gift of ₦30,000, while poultry training participants were given starter packs to launch small-scale ventures.
