In a significant humanitarian gesture, Zamfara State's First Lady, Hajiya Huriyya Dauda Lawal, has facilitated the release of 436 inmates by clearing their accumulated debts totaling N67,204,700. The intervention took place during a ceremony where 200 orphans were wedded in Gusau, the state capital.
Debt Relief and Freedom Restoration
The governor's wife revealed that the inmates had been convicted due to debt-related crises across 54 Sharia Courts throughout Zamfara State. She emphasized that the Zakkat and Endowment Board, working in partnership with the Sharia Court of Appeal, had conducted thorough verification of all affected individuals to ensure the intervention reached genuine cases.
Huriyya Lawal made a passionate appeal to the newly freed inmates, urging them to use this opportunity to transform their lives positively. She specifically cautioned against engaging in any unlawful activities that could jeopardize their hard-won freedom.
Mass Wedding and Islamic Guidance
During the same event that featured the debt settlement announcement, 200 orphan couples were united in marriage. The First Lady counseled the newlyweds to build their relationships on love and mutual respect while adhering to the teachings of Islamic Sharia in their marital lives.
Mallam Umar Kanoma, Chairman of the Zakkat and Endowment Board, used the occasion to call on politicians and philanthropists across the state to support the board's activities. He clarified that the board operates as a non-political entity established specifically to address the needs and challenges facing vulnerable populations in Zamfara State.
Combating Gender-Based Violence
In a separate but equally important development, the First Lady launched the 2025 16 Days Activism campaign against gender-based violence, dedicating her efforts to combating violence against women in the state.
The annual global commemoration, organized by the Office of the Zamfara State First Lady in collaboration with the State Ministry for Women, Children and Social Development Affairs, specifically advocates against violence targeting women.
Huriyya Lawal described gender-based violence as a significant threat to social well-being and development, emphasizing the need for collective action, unity, and accountability. She outlined this year's priorities, stating, "Our priorities this year are to strengthen the enforcement of laws that protect survivors, supporting access to justice for victims of online and offline abuse."
The First Lady called for enhanced collaboration with security agencies to protect communities, expand safe spaces, provide psychosocial support and counseling, promote digital safety and responsible online behavior, and encourage cybercrime reporting. She also emphasized the importance of ending stigma, silence, and harmful cultural practices that perpetuate violence against women.
This year's theme, "Digital violence is real violence," serves as a powerful reminder of the evolving nature of gender-based violence in the digital age, according to the First Lady's remarks.
