Nigeria’s Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, marked a rare and highly symbolic personal milestone on Feb. 6 as 10 of his children were married in a single joint Islamic ceremony at the National Mosque in Abuja, an event that blended private family celebration with the pageantry of high-level political presence.
The ceremony brought together five daughters — Maryam, Safiyya, Farida, Nana Firdausi and Aisha — and five sons — Ibrahim, Abdul Jalal, Surajo, Bello and Fahad — who were joined with their spouses under Islamic rites before a gathering that included senior Nigerian officials and foreign dignitaries. The couples, dressed in traditional and ceremonial attire, exchanged vows in what attendees described as a colourful and faith-centered celebration that drew attention well beyond the minister’s family circle.
President Bola Tinubu played a prominent role in the ceremony, serving as Wali, or guardian, during the wedding Fātiḥa of the couples. Punchng reported that the president’s participation underscored the significance attached to the occasion, which unfolded at Nigeria’s most prominent place of worship in the capital.
The religious rites were conducted by Professor Luqman Zakariyah, who officiated the ceremony and offered prayers not only for the newly married couples but also for the country and its leadership. In remarks delivered during the service, the imam prayed for the president’s health and longevity, describing Tinubu as a symbolic father figure for the brides and grooms during the ceremony.
“We pray to Almighty Allah to give our President, who is representing all, the father of all the brides and the grooms, good health,” the imam said. He also asked for divine guidance and success for Tinubu’s administration, adding prayers that the presidency would bring renewed hope to Nigerians facing hardship.
Matawalle, visibly moved by the president’s presence and role, later expressed his appreciation in remarks and in a message shared publicly. In the statement, he described Tinubu’s decision to act as Wali as a rare honour that carried deep personal and cultural meaning for his family.
“Today, I am deeply honoured and profoundly grateful to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for graciously serving as Wali at the wedding Fātiḥa of my children, held at the National Mosque, Abuja,” Matawalle wrote. “I remain sincerely honoured by this rare privilege.”
The gathering also attracted notable figures from within and outside Nigeria. Among those in attendance was the President of São Tomé and Príncipe, Carlos Vila Nova, whose presence added a diplomatic dimension to the event. Governors Umar Namadi of Jigawa State and Nasir Idris of Kebbi State were also among the dignitaries present, alongside members of the Federal Executive Council, serving and former governors, lawmakers, traditional leaders, friends and extended family members.
In subsequent remarks, Matawalle extended special thanks to President Vila Nova, saying the attendance of the São Tomé and Príncipe leader lent additional meaning to the celebration. He described the turnout of senior officials and well-wishers as a reflection of shared respect and longstanding relationships built across political and personal lines.
Beyond expressions of gratitude, the minister used the moment to offer prayers for those who travelled from across Nigeria and beyond to attend the ceremony. He asked that God reward those who supported the family through prayers, messages and personal presence, and grant safe journeys to guests returning to their destinations.
“I also pray that Allah rewards abundantly all those who travelled from far and near to celebrate with us, and I ask Allah to grant you a safe and peaceful journey back to your respective destinations,” Matawalle said.
While the ceremony was first and foremost a family affair, its scale and the participation of the president and foreign leaders inevitably carried broader political and social resonance. In Nigeria, where public life often intertwines with cultural and religious traditions, high-profile family events can serve as informal venues for reaffirming alliances and signaling unity across political, regional and religious lines.
The decision by Tinubu to serve as Wali was particularly notable. In Islamic tradition, the role carries symbolic responsibility and moral authority, and its assumption by the president placed him at the center of a ceremony that blended religious obligation with national prominence. Analysts note that such gestures, while personal in form, often resonate publicly, reinforcing images of accessibility and cultural continuity in leadership.
The presence of a sitting foreign president further highlighted Nigeria’s diplomatic standing and the personal relationships cultivated by senior officials beyond formal state visits and summits. For observers, the attendance of President Vila Nova underscored the soft-power dimension of personal diplomacy, where cultural and family occasions complement official engagements.
At the same time, the mass wedding itself drew attention to enduring traditions within parts of Nigerian society, where joint ceremonies are sometimes embraced as expressions of unity, efficiency and shared joy. Hosting such an event at the National Mosque, a site closely associated with national religious life, amplified its symbolic weight.
Punchng, which first detailed the president’s role at the ceremony, noted that the event concluded with prayers and expressions of goodwill, as guests departed after hours of religious rites and celebration.
For Matawalle, the day represented both a personal milestone and a public moment of gratitude. In thanking the president, foreign leaders and fellow officials, he framed the occasion as one defined not only by family happiness but also by communal support and shared values.
As Nigeria continues to navigate political, economic and security challenges, events such as this — while celebratory — also offer insight into the ways tradition, leadership and public life intersect in the country’s evolving national story.
Punchng/TVNewsng
