The Catholic Bishop of Kontagora Diocese, Most Rev Dr Bulus Dauwa Yohanna, has conducted a mass wedding for 21 couples in Niger State.
The ceremony was held at St. Mark Catholic Church in Nsanji Nkoso, Magama local government area on Saturday.
Speaking on the occasion, the cleric harped on the importance of legal and church-recognized marriage, stating that cohabitation without proper marriage is wrong.
Bishop Yohanna, who is the Niger State Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, CAN, observed that many couples had relied solely on traditional marriage rites, which encourage cohabitation without formal recognition.
While reminding them that marriage is a lifetime commitment, the bishop encouraged the couples to build their marriages on love, companionship, and commitment.
In the same vein, the Parish Priest, Rev. Fr. Francis Yasak Joshua, disclosed that the couples had completed their traditional marriage rites, including paying bride prices, and underwent three months of marriage counseling before the church ceremony.
Several couples, including Mrs Cyprian Uche, who had been cohabiting for 22 years and have five children, expressed heartfelt gratitude on the occasion.
They stated that without the opportunity provided, they may have remained unmarried for the rest of their lives.
