08/06/2026
Some people can date for 5 years, know each other's favourite food, favourite colour, favourite football club
But they don't know their genotype
Now Kano State is preparing for another state-sponsored mass wedding and before anybody says "I do," the government wants to know something more important than love
Can both of you actually marry safely?
The Kano State Hisbah Board has commenced mandatory medical screening for 3,OOO prospective couples under the state's mass wedding programme
That's 1,5OO men and 1,5OO women
And this isn't one of those exercises where people simply show up and collect certificates
According to the board, every intending couple must undergo tests for HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B, genotype compatibility, drug abvse and other sΒ£xually transmitted infections
The exercise is taking place across 24 local g0vernment areas including Rogo, Wudil, Tudun Wada and Gwarzo
What caught my attention is the part where they said anybody who fails to appear or fails the medical screening will be automatically disqualified
No stories
No excuses
No emotional blackmail
No "but we love each other"
Disqualified
Many people treat medical compatibility as something they can discuss later
Later after the engagement
Later after wedding preparations
Sometimes, later after they've already fallen deeply in love
Then reality arrives
The truth is that marriage is one of the few decisions where emotions and biology eventually meet
Love is important
But genotype doesn't listen to romance
Hepatitis doesn't respect wedding pictures
And HIV doesn't disappear because two people are determined to be together
That's why whenever I see stories like this, I wonder why some people still see medical screening as optional
You can spend mi||ions on decoration
Mi||ions on aso-ebi
Mi||ions on food
Yet the test that could potentially save you years of pa!n is the one some people keep postponing
At least in Kano's case, the g0vernment has made the decision simple
Pass the screening and proceed
Fail or refuse the test and your name leaves the list
No matter how beautiful the love story sounds
That's all