The Emir of Zazzau, Ambassador Ahmed Nuhu Bamalli, has urged families to discourage extravagant spending on Aso-ebi and cosmetics during weddings, calling on Nigerians to channel such resources toward helping the poor.
Speaking at the 20th anniversary of the Crystal Muslim Organisation (CMO) in Abuja, the monarch said lavish wedding expenses were unjustifiable amid the country’s economic hardship. He criticised the practice of spending hundreds of thousands or even millions of naira on cosmetics and Aso-ebi while many Nigerians struggle to afford three meals a day.
“You will see our people spending millions of naira for just cosmetics if a girl is getting married, or buying Aso-ebi for half a million naira, ₦200,000 or ₦300,000, which is totally unacceptable,” he said.
Bamalli also advocated integrating vocational skills into Western and Islamic school curricula to promote self-reliance, urged young people to embrace technology, and called on political leaders to revive scholarship programmes for disadvantaged students.
At the event, the National Amir of CMO, Alhaji Muhammad Sagir Shettima, said the organisation marked its 20th anniversary by recognising 12 winners of its essay competition and reaffirmed its commitment to supporting vulnerable members of society through charitable initiatives.
