By Richard Benjamin
Residents of Jigawa State have expressed concern over what they describe as a growing trend of delayed marriages among women, blaming worsening economic conditions and the rising cost of marriage for the development.
Some residents who spoke in Dutse said the increasing cost of dowries, wedding ceremonies and setting up new homes has made it difficult for many young people to get married, despite the state’s long-standing tradition of early marriage.
Others also cited changing social realities, including greater access to education and the effects of inflation, as factors contributing to the delay in marriages.
The concerns come weeks after the Jigawa State Government organised a mass wedding for 300 orphans—150 brides and 150 grooms—from the state’s 27 local government areas as part of efforts to support vulnerable young people and ease the financial burden associated with marriage.
Speaking at the event, the First Lady of Jigawa State, Hajiya Amina Umar Namadi, said the initiative was designed to restore hope for orphaned and less-privileged youths by providing financial support, wedding materials and start-up assistance for newly married couples.
She said the programme was intended to promote family stability and help vulnerable young people overcome economic barriers to marriage.
Some community members welcomed the intervention, describing it as timely support for poor families. Others, however, argued that greater investment in education, skills acquisition and economic empowerment would provide more sustainable solutions to the challenges facing young people.
Jigawa, like many states in northern Nigeria, has traditionally recorded high rates of early marriage. However, economic pressures and changing social conditions are increasingly influencing marriage patterns across the state.
