In northern Nigeria, 1,500 couples have tied the knot at a mass wedding organised by the state. Before the wedding, the couples underwent screening and received counselling. This is the second time that Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf has organised a mass wedding of this kind. Nigerian brides and grooms attend a mass wedding ceremony in Kano, Nigeria, on Saturday. Photo: APThe government describes the programme as part of its social policy to support low-income families and promote social stability.