At least 100 repentant commercial sex workers who indicated interest to the state’s Hisbah Department, are to be married off by the Bauchi state government. 

The Permanent Secretary in charge of the Hisbah Department, Aminu Balarabe-Isah, made this known Tuesday while launching a vocational training for 575 repentant commercial sex workers in Bauchi.

He said the government would sponsor the weddings of both Muslim and Christian women among them, and provide them with dependable and reliable sources of livelihood.

He added that “we would facilitate the entire process after obtaining their consent and that of their parents and guardians before the marriage takes place.”

He commended them for taking the bold decision to renounce the practice, which may affect their lives negatively and place
a permanent stigma on them.

The permanent secretary explained that the repentant sex workers would be trained on vocational skills which included hair dressing, knitting, entrepreneurship, tailoring and cosmetology.

He said other skills were make up, catering, poultry/fishery, shoe/bag making, and computer literacy classes, adding that the training was in collaboration with the National Directorate of Employment.

“We would expand the scope of the training to the 20 existing local government areas of the state,” he said.

According to him, the day for the mass wedding will be announced after completing all necessary preparations and after ensuring that due processes are
adhered to for the exercise.

Hadiza Mohammed, thanked Governor Bala Mohammed for the initiative, saying, “I am learning a vocation in hairdressing and I am happy for the opportunity.

“I will soon establish my own business to achieve self-sustainability, as my former way of life is regrettable and full of unnecessary risks,” she said.

Similarly, Maryam David, a trainee receiving training in tailoring, welcomed the gesture and promised that she would never return to her previous lifestyle again.

She said she would use the knowledge acquired to establish her own business and eventually remarry to turn a better life.

(NAN)