General
1,000 couples receive guidance ahead of mass wedding in Katsina
The Katsina State Government, in collaboration with an NGO, Al-Usra Marital Support Foundation, on Thursday organised an intensive pre-marital counselling and training for about 1,000 intending couples.
The exercise, held in Katsina, Daura and Funtua zones, was part of preparations for a mass wedding, ‘Auren Gata’, an initiative of the state government, scheduled for April 25.
The Chairperson of the Foundation, Dr Murjanatu Ibrahim-Duwan, said that the training was aimed at strengthening family values and reducing divorce in the society.
She said that the foundation was partnering with relevant authorities to prepare couples, representing 2,000 individuals, for the planned mass wedding.
Ibrahim-Duwan added that the initiative was designed to equip the intending couples with the knowledge and skills required to build stable and successful marriages.
She said that the couples were earlier screened by the state Ministry of Women Affairs to ensure they are fit and ready for marriage.
She said that the training exercise had been divided into three zones, Malumfashi, Daura and Katsina, to allow participants from different locations conveniently attend the sessions.
“The training is to prepare the couples for a successful married life by educating them on their responsibilities to one another and the importance of mutual understanding in marriage,” she said.
Ibrahim-Duwan added that the sessions also provided guidance on Islamic perspectives on marriage, conflict resolution and ways to maintain harmony in the home.
She noted that participants would receive certificates, which would serve as a requirement for participation in the mass wedding.
The chairperson further explained that the ministry of women affairs compiled and verified the list of screened couples after conducting medical tests and other necessary evaluations.
She expressed optimism that the initiative would contribute significantly to reducing marital disputes and strengthening family institutions in the state.
Earlier, the Hisbah Commander in the state, Dr Aminu Usman (Abu Ammar), said that the initiative, the first in the state, would help in reducing immorality.
He said that the state government would also provide the couples with all the necessary support needed for marriage, and also a capital for the groom to start a business.
Usman said that after the wedding, the board would continue to monitor the couples, to ensure a true and peaceful marriage.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Aisha Aminu-Malumfashi, said the initiative was to prevent the beneficiaries, especially women, from falling into immorality.
Represented by Amina Sada-Mashi, the Spokesperson of the ministry, the Commissioner said that the beneficiaries were made to undergo a thorough screening, such as genotype, HIV and other health issues.
NAN
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The Civil Society – Scaling Up Nutrition in Nigeria (CS-SUNN) has organized a two-day capacity-building workshop for stakeholders in Kano State on the use of the National Nutrition Budget Tracking System (NNBTS).
The training, held at Tahir Guest Palace, brought together key actors in the health and nutrition sector to enhance accountability and strengthen nutrition financing across the state.
During a presentation titled “Overview of Nutrition Financing in Nigeria: State Trend Analysis Review”, CS-SUNN official Jibrin Okpaji stressed that government interventions at all levels are vital for tackling malnutrition and its associated challenges.
Okpaji noted that sustained investment in nutrition is essential for improving public health and reducing preventable deaths among vulnerable populations.
He emphasized the need for stakeholders to acquire the technical expertise to effectively use the NNBTS, which would bolster advocacy for increased budgetary allocations and promote transparency in resource management.
Abdulrahman Abdullahi, Secretary of CS-SUNN Katsina State Chapter, described the NNBTS platform as a key tool for evidence-based planning, monitoring, and accountability in nutrition programs.
The training featured live demonstrations of the portal, practical exercises on data entry and reporting, and the generation of scorecards, analytical reports, and policy briefs using sample data.
Participants also developed state-level implementation frameworks and action plans for the effective adoption of the system.
In his goodwill message, CS-SUNN Kano Coordinator Salman Mohammad urged participants to fully utilize the training to achieve its objectives.
Stakeholders described the workshop as timely and crucial for strengthening nutrition governance and improving coordination among actors in Nigeria’s nutrition ecosystem under initiatives led by CS-SUNN and its partners.
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Families in Kano State have turned out in large numbers to participate in a digital birth registration exercise organised by the National Population Commission (NPC) in partnership with UNICEF.
The initiative, supported by the Government of the Netherlands and implemented in collaboration with the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) and ALGON, aims to provide legal identity for children, particularly in hard-to-reach and underserved communities.
Speaking during an exercise in Wasarde Birgima community, Joda Ward, Gabasawa Local Government Area, Abba Hussaini, focal person for Under-One Birth registration, described the turnout as “highly encouraging.
“Over 626 children were registered in the community alone, adding that the target for the area is 1,100 and 12,000 for the entire local government,” he explained.
Hussaini commended UNICEF for technical support, training of personnel, and provision of registration equipment, and highlighted the role of traditional and religious leaders in mobilizing families.
Also speaking, Bashir Aminu Dambazau of NPC said the digital system has simplified registration by enabling instant issuance of birth certificates, improving data management, and ensuring children are documented immediately.
He explained that the digital registration system is helping to improve documentation and data management while ensuring that children receive certificates immediately after registration.
Hussaina Ahmad, 20, who brought her eight-month-old daughter, Aisha, after missing the previous exercise in September 2025, said that she was only two weeks into motherhood then.
According to Hussaina, her husband, a commercial motorcycle operator, learned about the exercise from the village head and informed her.
“I don’t know my own birth date and I want my children to have an identity from the start.” She said
She explained that the registration was essential for school enrollment and other future benefits.
“I didn’t attend school, and neither did my parents, but I want my child to go to school and become influential in the community. Every child deserves this,” she added.
Hussaina noted that she would return to her community to educate other parents about the importance of early registration, praising the organisations bringing the service closer to families.
Similarly, 19-year-old Kaltume Ali of Unguwar Tsakiya brought her four-month-old son, Musa, said community awareness campaigns helped her realise that children without birth certificates often face barriers to healthcare, education, social protection, and other opportunities.
“My husband first heard about the registration from the village head and encouraged me to enrol our child. Neither of us has a national identity card, but we were told we could use his brother’s NIMC card. I don’t want my only son to miss out on opportunities,” she said.
Also participating was 20-year-old Asmau Sagir of Unguwar Yamma, who brought her seven-month-old son, Abdulrahman , said birth registration to safeguard children’s identity and future.
Sagir noted that digital registration helps families avoid challenges later, particularly with school enrollment and access to government services.
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The Emir of Katsina, Abdulmumini Kabir-Usman, has turbaned Muhammad Dikko-Radda, the son of the governor, as Gwagwaren Katsina ‘ll’, and District Head of Radda, in Charanchi local government area.
The ceremony held in Kastina, on Saturday, was presided over by the Emir, having the attendance of prestigious dignitaries from within and outside Nigeria, including officials from Zinder.
Others turbaned are Ahmad Abdulmumini-Kabir, the son of the Emir, as Danmajen Katsina and District Head of Dankama, and Abubakar Dardisu as Sarkin Mudurun Katsina and District Head of Muduru.
Speaking at the event, the Emir called for unity, urging citizens to avoid envy, promote mutual respect and understanding.
He further expressed concerns over prevailing societal challenges, attributing them largely to selfishness among individuals.
Kabir-Usman noted that unless there is a change in attitude, societal problems would persist.
He stressed the need for adherence to religious values and collective responsibility to promote peace and development.
The Emir further called for collective attitudinal change to foster a better and more harmonious society.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reports that the ceremony has the largest gathering, ever since the reign of the Emir,
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