Sola
The minister announced the empowerment scheme on Thursday at the palace of the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Mohammed Barau Muazu, with all the 100 brides in attendance.
Other empowerment schemes, according to the minister, include 350 bags of 10kg rice, 100 wrappers, and a promise of scholarships to the university level for those willing to return to school.
Mrs. Uju, represented by her Special Assistant on the Private Sector, Engineer Adaji Usman, directed that bank accounts be opened for all the 100 intending Brides, where a stipend will be sent to them for the next six months to enable them to settle down in their husband’s houses.
The minister expressed dismay over media reports for escalating the initial controversy surrounding the marriage of the 100 girls, stating that she did not intend to stop the marriage but to ensure the girls were of marriageable age and not being forced into it.
She said, “Every parent will want to marry out their wards when they attain the right age for marriage.” She added that her initial opposition to the planned marriage was misunderstood, leading to a media war between her office and the speaker, but she thanked the speaker for handling the issue through the traditional institution in the state.
Mrs. Uju promised that the girls would be closely monitored in their various husband’s houses so that the objectives of the empowerment scheme would not be defeated. She added that the ministry would follow this up with skill acquisitions in their trades of interest to further empower them.
Earlier in his keynote address at the occasion, the speaker, RT Hon Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, revealed that the entire drama over his intention to support the marriage of the 100, mostly orphans, was politically motivated.
He stated, “It was pure politics from my constituency. They misinformed the minister that I am playing politics with the lives of the children by forcing them into marriage.
“And the minister, because of her passion for women and the girl child, quickly waded into the matter even though she could not find out the true position of the things, and the media began to amplify the whole matter.
“But thank God today I have been vindicated, the minister and the whole world have seen that these girls are of marriageable age and nobody is forcing them into it. It is being done through their consents.
“I decided to support the marriage out of genuine concern for these girls, the majority of whom are orphans as a result of insecurity in my constituency. It was with a pure heart.
“I equally commend the minister for this empowerment scheme for the girls; she has shown that she is a mother and really meant well for the girl child in this country.”
The Speaker pointed out that he will continue to do his best for the good of the people of his constituency, stressing that “I will not be deterred by the dirty politics anybody wants to play. The welfare and the well-being of my people are my primary responsibility, and I will not shy away from it.
“Those who need this assistance to enable them to settle down are over 100, but I just picked these ones because that is what my resources can take for now. But in no distant time, we will come up with comprehensive plans for the remaining ones, and this will be done in conjunction with the ministry for women affairs and other critical stakeholders to avoid this ugly experience.”
Also speaking, the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Mohammed Barau Muazu, appreciated God for the peaceful resolution of the matter that had unsettled the Emirate in the last two weeks, saying “the whole drama was as a result of misunderstanding and lack of communication”.
The Emir thanked the minister for the empowerment scheme rolled out for the girls and assured her that it will be utilised for the purpose they were given. He equally thanked the state governor, Rt Hon Umar Mohammed Bago, for his leadership role in handling the matter and his contributions towards the empowerment of the brides.
The Emir disclosed that all the necessary medical tests, including HIV/AIDS, Genotype, Hepatitis B, and pregnancy, were conducted, and the results handed over to the representatives of the minister.
