Abuja
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, is set to host a joint wedding ceremony for nine of his children in Abuja, an unusual event that has attracted public attention due to its scale and the high-profile status of the former Zamfara State governor.
According to an official invitation seen by TMN and confirmations from party officials, the ceremony is scheduled to hold on February 6, 2026, at the National Mosque, Abuja, with proceedings expected to begin at 1:30 p.m.
The invitation lists the names of the children as Ibrahim, Suraj, Safiya, Maryam, Aisha, Fahad, Muh’d, Nana Firdausi and Farida, all of whom will be joined in marriage on the same day.
Confirming the development, the All Progressives Congress (APC) spokesperson in Zamfara State, Yusuf Idris, said the group includes five sons and four daughters, adding that preparations for the ceremony are already at an advanced stage.
“By the grace of God, the ceremony will be conducted at the Abuja Central Mosque on February 6. The minister’s children who are getting married are five sons and four daughters,” Idris said.
He added that a committee has been set up to oversee logistics for the event, which is expected to attract family members, political figures, traditional leaders, and well-wishers from across the country.
“I am among the committee members for this great occasion, and as I speak to you now, arrangements have reached an advanced stage to ensure a smooth ceremony in Abuja next month,” he said.
While joint weddings are not uncommon in some Nigerian communities, hosting nine weddings simultaneously by a serving cabinet minister is rare and has placed a personal spotlight on Matawalle, whose public life has largely been defined by politics and security-related responsibilities.
Matawalle served as governor of Zamfara State from 2019 to 2023 before being appointed Minister of State for Defence by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a role in which he oversees aspects of Nigeria’s security architecture alongside the Minister of Defence.
The event comes at a time when the defence ministry remains heavily engaged in ongoing operations against banditry, insurgency and other security challenges across several regions of the country.
The former governor is married to four wives — Aisha, Balkisu, Fatima and Dadiya — and is widely reported to have more than 30 children.
In 2022, photographs circulated widely on social media showing Matawalle surrounded by about 30 young people, identified as his sons and daughters, all dressed in white outfits — an image that drew public interest and renewed discussion around the personal lives of political leaders.
One of his daughters, Ruqayya Matawalle, was previously married in 2019, in a ceremony that also attracted attention in Zamfara State.
The upcoming wedding ceremony is expected to be a large gathering, with heightened security and protocol arrangements typical of events involving senior government officials.
Sources familiar with the planning say guests are expected from across the political divide, reflecting Matawalle’s long-standing influence in northern Nigeria’s political and social circles.
While the wedding remains a private family celebration, it has generated significant public interest because of the scale of the ceremony and Matawalle’s prominent role in national affairs.
Observers say the event reflects how personal milestones of high-ranking public officials often attract national attention in Nigeria, blurring the lines between private life and public office.
As preparations continue, the ceremony is expected to be one of the most notable social events in Abuja’s political calendar in early 2026, bringing together family, tradition and politics in the nation’s capital.