Zamfara govt to assist widows get married

[MrVan]

The Zamfara Government says it has concluded plans to assist widows to fund their marriages in order to reduce the burden they face.

The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Bilkisu Ahmad, said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gusau.

She said that the ministry was collaborating with stakeholders to identify such women and counsel them toward a happy and enduring married life.

She said that the idea which received the blessings of the state governor, Alhaji Abdulaziz Yari, led to the receipt of some necessary materials needed to contract the wedding under the government's sponsorship.

She said that efforts were being made to consult with traditional rulers on the best ways the ceremonies could be made to last.

She cited the example of Kano which started implementing similar exercise.

Ahmad said that the ministry, with the support of the traditional rulers would also counsel would-be husbands to be of good behaviours to their wives so that better families could evolve under the scheme.

She, however, noted that the state government alone could not handle the matter and implored all well-to-do individuals to contribute toward ensuring the success of the scheme.

The commissioner, who could not say the number of women involved, said: "This is still being worked out and we will contact all the affected women to come forward as soon as we finish the paper works so that the programme can start in earnest.'' (NAN)

Vanguard Nigeria