Despite the initial outcry it generated, the mass wedding of 100 orphaned girls in Niger State has finally taken place today after the Ministry of Women Affairs reached an understanding with the major actors involved including the Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji and the Emir of Kotangora, Mohammed Muazu.
The Women Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, earlier on Thursday, announced scholarships and gave various gift items to the 100 orphaned girls in Niger State, ahead of their mass wedding today.
The orphans were however married in separate ceremonies as part of the agreement reached between the Speaker and the Women Affairs Minister.
The minister had initially kicked against the wedding of the young girls, saying it was a violation of the Child Rights Act. Friday’s event was initially meant to be a mass wedding, but the Women’s Affairs Minister, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye filed a lawsuit and obtained a court order to stop it, amidst concerns that some of the girls may be underage.
During the face-off, the Speaker had criticised the Minister of Women Affairs for dabbling into a religious and cultural issue she did not understand and said the minister acted without first making any effort to understand the circumstances that confronted the girls, which made it necessary for their weddings to be sponsored.
Following the controversy the proposed mass wedding generated, the Emir of Kotangora and some religious leaders waded in to seek a resolution.
After an agreement was reached for the marriage ceremonies to proceed, the Minister announced scholarships for the girls up to tertiary institutions for those who wished to further their education.
Other items such as wrappers and foodstuffs were also donated to the young women. The Minister equally promised a monthly stipend to the newly married women for the first six months of their marriages.
As a condition to proceed with the weddings, the women were profiled to ensure they were up to 18 years old. Some medical tests, including HIV/AIDS, genotype, Hepatitis B and pregnancy tests, were conducted and the results were handed over to the Minister through her representatives.