Nigeria's Women Affairs Minister backed mass wedding of 100 orphan girls in Niger after initially opposing it, promising scholarships and support amid outcry.
In a surprising U-turn, Nigeria's Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has backed the controversial mass wedding of 100 female orphans in Niger State, just days after vehemently opposing the event. Kennedy-Ohanenye has pledged to provide scholarships and gift items to the 100 brides ahead of their weddings today.
The minister had initially voiced strong opposition to the Speaker of the Niger House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, sponsoring the mass marriages, citing potential violations of the Child Rights Act. However, she now claims the media misunderstood her stance.
"I did not intend to stop the marriage but to ensure the girls are of marriageable age and not being forced into it," Kennedy-Ohanenye stated, adding that any parent would want to marry off their wards once they reach the appropriate age.
To support the newlyweds, the minister has ordered the opening of bank accounts for each bride, depositing a stipend to aid their transition into married life over the next six months. Foodstuffs, wrappers, and other gifts will also be distributed at the Emir of Kontagora's palace during the ceremony.
Kennedy-Ohanenye's reversal has sparked outrage among many Nigerians who condemn the mass marriage of minors as a violation of girls' rights. Critics accuse the minister of caving to pressure and compromising her principles. However, the minister maintains the brides will be "closely monitored" in their husbands' homes to ensure the empowerment scheme's objectives are achieved, though the specifics remain unclear.
