In an unprecedented celebration, Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, married off all ten of his children in a single ceremony in Abuja on Friday, February 6.
The event, held at the National Mosque, saw the wedding fatiha of five sons and five daughters followed by a grand reception attended by prominent dignitaries, including President Bola Tinubu and the President of São Tomé and PrÃncipe, Carlos Vila Nova.
President Tinubu served as the *Wali* (guardian) for the brides, receiving them on behalf of the Matawalle family. Other high-profile guests included Deputy Senate President Senator Jubril Barau, several state governors, and senior presidential aides.
The minister’s daughters—Maryam, Safiyya, Farida, Nana Firdausi, and Aisha—and his sons—Ibrahim, Abdul Jalal, Surajo, Bello, and Fahad—were all joined in marriage during the ceremony, which was officiated by Imam Prof. Luqman Zakariyah.
While the occasion was widely shared on social media as a historic family celebration, it also drew public criticism due to its timing—coming just hours after a deadly terrorist attack in Kwara State claimed numerous lives. Many Nigerians questioned the appropriateness of such a lavish high-profile event amidst national mourning.
Matawalle, a former governor of Zamfara State, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and other guests for honoring the family with their presence. The ceremony has since become one of the most talked-about social events in recent Nigerian public life.
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