Kano Scholar Condemns Govt-Funded Widow Marriages, Says Resources Should Empower Women

A prominent Kano Islamic scholar, Sheikh Alaramma Hadi Inuwa Maihula Sanka, has criticised the Kano State Government’s widow marriage programme, describing government-funded marriage initiatives as “Haram” and urging authorities to discontinue the practice.

Sheikh Maihula stated this during an interview with journalists in Kano on Tuesday evening, arguing that marriage, like other major religious obligations, is subject to an individual’s ability and financial means.

According to him, Islam does not compel a person who lacks the financial capacity to undertake marriage, just as obligations such as Zakat and Hajj are not imposed on those without the means to fulfil them.

“Marriage, Zakat and Hajj are never made obligatory on anyone unless they have the means,” he said, citing teachings from the Qur’an, particularly Suratul Nur, as well as Hadith narrated by Imams Bukhari and Muslim.

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The cleric questioned the use of public funds to organise or finance special marriage programmes, arguing that government resources should instead be channelled towards addressing pressing social challenges affecting citizens.

He specifically cited inadequate healthcare, potable water supply and outstanding obligations to pensioners as areas requiring greater government attention.

“Kano city does not have enough hospitals, there are not enough qualified doctors, there is no potable drinking water, and pensioners have not all been settled,” he said.

Sheikh Maihula also criticised the concentration of specialist healthcare facilities in Kano metropolis, noting that residents from distant local government areas are often forced to travel to the city to access medical treatment.

He specifically mentioned Gwarzo, Takai and Tsanyawa, questioning why similar healthcare facilities could not be established in those communities to bring medical services closer to residents.

“Since Gwarzo, Takai or Tsanyawa, the community has been coming to Murtala Muhammad Specialist Hospital, and this hospital was built in 1928. Why can’t a similar hospital be built in Takai, Tsanyawa or Gwarzo?” he asked.

The Islamic scholar further warned that government-sponsored marriages could create additional financial responsibilities for the state if beneficiaries subsequently have children and require further assistance.

He urged the government to prioritise empowering widows and other vulnerable women through vocational training, entrepreneurship support and sustainable livelihood programmes.

Maihula called on the Kano State Government and other states considering similar initiatives to reconsider the programmes and redirect resources towards interventions that would enable beneficiaries to achieve greater economic independence.

He maintained that equipping women with sustainable means of livelihood would provide longer-term benefits than one-off marriage interventions.