The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has resolved to work with stakeholders in Niger state in the interest of the 100 orphaned girls being touted for marriage.
This is coming after her initial confrontation with the Speaker of the Niger House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, and traditional institutions in the state over the plan to marry out the girls.
She, however, insisted that the suit she instituted in court against the move would not be withdrawn for now.
Speaking at a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, Kennedy-Ohanenye assured that she and His Royal Highness, Alhaji Mohommed Muazu, the Emir of Kontagora, Niger State as well as the Speaker had come to an agreement on empowering the ladies one way or the other.
She said she was concerned about how the husbands of the girls would take care of them, stating that marrying them off is one thing and taking care of them is another.
“This is among the reasons I went to court as soon as I heard, to get an injunction to stop the marriage from taking place,” she said.
According to the minister, the court injunction to stop the mass marriage of the hundred orphans was secured within 48 hours.
She said: “To think that this kind of thing still happens in Nigeria is unbelievable.
“As soon as I got the court injunction, the Etsu Nupe called me, asking for peace. Next was the Emir of Kotangora coming to my office.
“We later resolved the issue, taking decisions that will be beneficial to these ladies.
“The Emir assured me of thorough investigation and said the marriage will not be carried out until the investigation is over. To me this solves the problem.
“I want Nigerians to know that this has nothing to do with religion. I am just doing my job as a mother.
“Presently, the Ministry of Women Affairs is in partnership with the Speaker Niger State House of Assembly, Abdul Malik Sarkindaji’s government to empower these ladies.
“Those that want to go to school will be sent to school, and the ones who want to learn trades will be empowered to do so.
“We are taking this as a challenge. I will empower these women with sustainable economic empower.”
