The Sultan of Sokoto, His Eminence, Alhaji Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, has urged couples to imbibe the virtues of tolerance and forgiveness in marriage as a way of stemming the tide of divorce in the country.
The sultan, who spoke at the launch of Mariam Lemu Marriage Academy & Certified Premarital Masterclass in Abuja, Sunday, said it was worrisome that a day hardly passed by without a couple divorcing.
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Represented at the event by the Emir of Keffi, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Shehu Usman Chindo Yamusa III, the Sultan said the academy would help in curtailing the rampant cases of divorce, infidelity, domestic violence and other forms of harm to marital harmony.
“It’s very worrisome that though hardly a day passes without notice of marriage ceremony but also hardly, too, does a day passes without a divorce occurring. But let me pause and raise this cardinal question: what is happening today that married couples no longer tolerate and pardon each other despite Allah’s blessing upon them with the children.
“Let me call on our religious leaders to always preach tolerance and forgiveness to their faithful and to make the couple realize that it’s Allah’s destiny for them to become husband and wife since their creation and must learn to show love to each other.
“It’s obvious also for us to call on the traditional rulers to play critical role in reducing the menace of divorce and violence against women and policies against women in marriage,” the Sultan said.
He advised the management of Maryam Lemu Academy to liaise with the departments of Guidance & Counselling in tertiary institutions, the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) and Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) as well as the ministries of education and women affairs and other relevant agencies for their constructive inputs to take the academy to an enviable height.
“Let me register my special request or appeal to regional organizations like the African Union, ECOWAS, United Nations and women in NGOs to support the academy as the only institution in Nigeria with zealous intention to strengthen and curtail all forms of marriage malpractices.
“An adage says, “Marriage sustainability requires enough support, guidance and counselling.’’ In realistic terms, I call on social and management scientists, especially sociologists, psychologists and anthropologists to extend your services in the support of Maryam Lemu Marriage Academy.
Also, the chief launcher at the event, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State, who donated N50 million to the academy, said Nigeria was grappling with social challenges because of broken homes.
“Honestly, Nigeria is what it is today because we have broken the family system and marriages are no longer working.
“You see in practicalising what I have learnt today, I am going to mandate my commissioner for education to ensure that this academy is part of our school academic activities in Kogi State,” he said.
Daughter of the president, Zahra Buhari-Ndimi unveiled the academy alongside other personalities.
