Bauchi First Lady, Hisba Board Hold One-Day Summit to Address Rising Marital Crises

By Zainab Faruk

The Office of the Bauchi State First Lady, in collaboration with the Hisba Department of the Bauchi State Shari’a Commission, has convened a one-day stakeholder engagement aimed at finding lasting solutions to the escalating marital problems affecting families across the state.

The event, themed “Challenges Facing Marriage in Our Society – Conduct, Cohabitation, High Divorce Rates, and Islamic Remedies,” brought together religious scholars, policymakers, community leaders, and women groups to collectively examine the root causes of marital breakdown and identify Islamic-based strategies for restoring stability in homes.

In her keynote address, the Bauchi State First Lady, Hajiya Aishatu Bala Mohammed, expressed gratitude to the dignitaries who attended, including wives of top government officials, the Commissioner for Religious Affairs, Hisba leaders, and prominent Islamic clerics led by the renowned scholar Sheikh Aminu Daurawa, who traveled from Kano to grace the event.

She described the gathering as timely, noting that many marital challenges—ranging from emotional abuse, financial neglect, domestic crises, and lack of proper Islamic guidance—have continued to destabilize families in the state. According to her, more than 80 percent of the complaints received at her office involve violations of marital rights, mostly committed by men who fail to uphold their responsibilities as ordained by Islam.

Hajiya Aishatu lamented the increasing number of women suffering due to irresponsible spouses who abandon their duties—failing to provide food, clothing, shelter, or even show concern for the wellbeing of their wives and children. She cited real cases handled by her office in partnership with Hisba, lawyers, and Islamic scholars, revealing that many families are collapsing because men have embraced harmful cultural practices that contradict Islamic teachings.

She raised concerns about the growing phenomenon of young girls being married off and left with numerous children without proper support, stressing that such neglect fuels immorality, broken homes, and juvenile delinquency. According to her, many women are forced into desperate situations because divorced or abandoned mothers—with several children—lack financial assistance, family support, or opportunities for empowerment.

The First Lady also condemned the rising incidents of sexual immorality, including cases in which fathers allegedly impregnate their own daughters, describing the situation as “a dangerous moral collapse that demands urgent action from all leaders, parents, clergy, and community members.”

She emphasized that the responsibility of restoring values falls on everyone—traditional rulers, religious leaders, parents, and the society at large. She called for stronger enforcement of Islamic laws, stiffer penalties for offenders, and collective efforts to rebuild moral discipline within homes, noting that “if 80 percent of society corrects itself, the remaining 20 percent can be reformed over time.”

The First Lady appealed for continuous engagements beyond the one-day summit, urging stakeholders to reconvene periodically to review progress and introduce enforceable regulations that will strengthen marriages and protect women and children.

Speaking earlier, the Permanent Commissioner of the Hisba Board at the Bauchi State Shari’a Commission, Barrister Aminu Balarabe Isah, said the First Lady’s commitment to addressing marital problems inspired the Hisba Board to carry out an extensive assessment of the rising divorce rate and its causes.

He explained that investigations by Hisba identified social practices—such as extravagant wedding ceremonies, harmful cultural traditions, and increasing material demands for bride-price, furniture, and other marriage-related items—as major contributors to delayed marriages and early marital collapse.

According to him, many youths cannot afford the heavy financial burdens imposed during wedding preparations, leading to rising immorality and strained relationships. He noted that the Hisba Board recently introduced 16 new guidelines regulating wedding ceremonies in the state, including the requirement for clearance before hosting receptions in hotels or event centers—an initiative that has helped curtail excesses.

Barrister Isah added that the summit, convened under the directive of the First Lady, aims to generate practical Islamic solutions to the issues of marriage expenses and home management. He called on stakeholders to continue supporting the government’s efforts to strengthen family systems as a foundation for a morally stable and progressive society.

The event concluded with a renewed commitment from participants to work collectively in promoting Islamic values, reducing marital crises, and safeguarding the future of families in Bauchi State.