The Emir has decried the high rate of divorce in the society, increasing cases of early child marriages leading to Vesico Vaginal Fistula, VVF, illiteracy and poverty in the society urged the committees to expand research into these and other areas, with a view to facilitating moral rebirth in the state.
He stated this while inaugurating the committees, Emir Muhammad Sanusi II, urged them to identify contemporary problems and to study and interpret the teachings of Islam in the context of the intellectual and scientific progress of the modern world, in order to assist the Kano society to live according to the teachings of Islam.
Malam Sanusi, who was specifically irked by the incessant cases of divorce in the state, urged the government to enact legislations that will make divorce strenuous as well as set standard for giving out female children in marriage, as obtained in other Muslim countries.
He also advised the state government to evolve ways of generating revenue so that it can embark upon more people – oriented programmes such as providing conditional grants to poor parents, to enable them permit their female children to acquire education.
Also, the Kano state government has said it would readily accept any proposed law, presented to it by consensus of the state Ulama, which aims at addressing social vices and promote the living standard of the indigenes, and pass same to the state House of Assembly for ratification.
The state governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje stated this during the inauguration of committees on Social Reforms in Kano by the Emir of Kano, Malam Muhammdu Sanusi II, at Bayero University, Kano.
Dr. Ganduje said because of the sensitivity of religious conviction and the orientation of Kano people, his government, being a populist administration, would not want to enact any edict affecting their lives without consulting religious leaders because of their standing in the society.
Consequently, the governor urged the main and sub committees on Social Reforms in the state to come up with advice and recommendations that would help the state and the country to permanently address critical social problems family issues, education and moral decadence among others.
“Many problems such as rampant cases of divorce, illiteracy and poverty are facing our society today. We must, therefore, put our hands together to ensure a refined social order, in line with the tenets of our religion”, the governor maintained.
He assured that the state government in collaboration with Kano Emirate Council and the religious scholars would continue to work hand-in-hand to ensure the state crusade against social vices succeeds.
He added that education is central focus of the state government in finding solutions to these problems.
The Pro Chancellor and Vice Chancellor of the University, Alhaji Yayale Ahmad and Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, respectively, thanked the state government and Kano Emirate for supporting the university’s in its determination to map out strategies to rid the state of social problems.
Others who spoke during the occasion including Professor Ishaq Oloyode, Shaikh Ibrahim Khalil and Malam Abdul-Wahab Abdallah stressed the need for Muslims to be selfless, to strengthen their unity, pay more attention to education and change their ways to ensure a wholesome Muslim ummah.
The 25 – man main committee which comprises religious scholars, academicians, technocrats and opinion leaders is headed by the Chief Imam of Kano, Emeritus Professor Muhammad Sani Zahraddeen with Professor Salisu Shehu as Secretary.
