The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanaeze has announced plans to empower the girls involved in the proposed mass marriage for orphans in Niger State.
Kennedy-Ohanaeze’s announcement comes after the Speaker of the Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkindaji, proposed a mass wedding for 100 orphans in his constituency, which he later discontinued.
The Minister had taken him to court over the matter, and despite the proposal being dropped, she is determined to give the girls a better life.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, she outlined her ministry’s plans to empower the orphans.
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For those who have completed secondary school, they will be encouraged to pursue higher education through open universities while also starting their own businesses or securing jobs.
Meanwhile, those who have not finished secondary school will be supported to return to school and complete their education.
READ ALSO: Women Affairs Minister Moves to Halt Forced Marriage of 100 Orphaned Girls
Furthermore, they will be given opportunities to acquire skills and start earning money while pursuing their education.
The Minister clarified that the lawsuit challenging the proposed mass marriage has not been withdrawn, contrary to reports.
She explained that the legal process requires a formal withdrawal in court, which has not yet occurred. Instead, her ministry is focused on partnering with relevant stakeholders to find a solution that benefits the girls involved.
She said:
“We are still trying to organize ourselves on how to partner well and get this problem sorted.”
