As part of his constituency project, the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, has concluded plans to marry off 100 female orphans in the state, saying he was “concerned with” their growing number as a result of activities of banditry,
The female orphans whose ages had yet to be disclosed reportedly lost their parents to banditry attacks in the Mariga Local Government Area.
The UNDP notes that: “Women are not only the most vulnerable victims of conflict, but they are also disproportionately disadvantaged in terms of resources, access to services, education, and human rights. Their vulnerability affects their ability to reach their full potential in society.
“In Northeast Nigeria, women and girls from conflict-affected areas make up the bulk of the vulnerable internally displaced persons with many of these women entirely responsible for the safety and financial stability of their families. To ensure that women reclaim their lives and create a more prosperous future for themselves and their families, it is imperative that they access social and economic services.
However, it does appear that Speaker Sarkindaji, has neither given consideration to empowering these orphans nor ensured that they have access to education. And although he expressed concern about the growing number of orphaned girls on account of banditry, he might not have given a thought to the baby boom which will sooner than later hit the state, thereby increasing the number of helpless citizens when the husbands of these orphans begin to exercise their conjugal rights.
But the Speaker may have made arrangements to settle them in affluent homes.
Addressing reporters in Minna, Niger State capital, Sarkindaji, who represents the Mariga State Constituency, disclosed that he would pay the dowries for the bridegrooms as part of his constituency project.
According to him, all necessary materials for the marriage ceremony schedule for May 24 at Bangi, the headquarters of Mariga Local Government Area, had been procured.
According to a Daily Trust report, he said that 100 girls who would be married off were carefully selected from the 170 girls whose names were submitted.
The Speaker, described the initiative as part of his constituency empowerment project, “aimed at alleviating the suffering of the impoverished.”
Sarkindaji, however, noted that the Niger State Governor, Mohammed Umar Bago, and the Emir of Kontagora, Alhaji Mohammed Barau, would serve as guardians to the female orphans during the mass marriage ceremony.
Expected to attend the ceremony is the Kano State Commander General of the Hisbah Board, Sheikh Aminu Daurawa.
According to an International Council of Nurses article, The Girl Child Education Fund brings education, hope and comfort to orphaned girls in Africa: “Educating girls plays a key role in improved health and poverty reduction. It leads to lower birth rates and infant mortality rates, better health, nutrition and gender equity. Girls who are educated earn higher incomes, leading to higher productivity, strengthened economies and stable, resilient societies.”
