Abuja witnessed an extraordinary celebration on Friday, February 6, as Bello Matawalle, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, gave all ten of his children in marriage in a single day.
The historic wedding fatiha took place at the National Mosque, followed by a grand reception in a nearby hall.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, married off five daughters — Maryam, Safiyya, Farida, Nana Firdausi, and Aisha — and five sons — Ibrahim, Abdul Jalal, Surajo, Bello, and Fahad.
The officiating Imam, Prof. Luqman Zakariyah, prayed for the couples’ happiness and the blessings of their families.
President Bola Tinubu attended, personally receiving the brides on behalf of the Matawalle family, while the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, and other dignitaries were present.
The event made headlines for its unprecedented scale, but also sparked debate as it coincided with a deadly terrorist attack in Kwara State, raising questions about priorities.