Popular Islamic cleric Sheikh Ahmad Gumi has expressed support for mass wedding programmes organised and funded by some Northern state governments.
In a post shared on Facebook, Gumi defended the use of public funds to facilitate marriages for women under government-sponsored mass wedding initiatives.
According to the cleric, such programmes are justified in a Shariah-based system where prostitution, fornication, adultery and promiscuity are prohibited.
He argued that providing financial support for marriage in such circumstances could be considered a legitimate and responsible aspect of governance.
Gumi said that where a society prohibits certain forms of sexual relationships outside marriage, government intervention to support marriage could help address social challenges associated with such restrictions.
His comments come amid ongoing debates over the mass wedding initiatives being implemented by some Northern state governments, with supporters describing the programmes as measures to promote marriage and reduce social challenges, while critics have questioned the use of public funds for such purposes.