The Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs in Zamfara State, Hajiya Bilkisu Ahmad, has said that the state Government has concluded plans to assist widows to fund their marriages in order to reduce the burden they face. The commissioner made this statement during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday in Gusau.
According to her, the ministry of Women and Children Affairs was collaborating with stakeholders to identify such women and counsel them toward a happy and enduring married life and 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 also 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.
In her words, “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.’’
