"Kano girls, having been married off from an orphanage, face abandonment by their husbands and endure abuse, as they are now forced to seek assistance to survive."

The Nassarawa orphanage home in Kano is a refuge for abandoned children, many of whom have been found on the streets, lost due to the tragic loss of their parents or left behind after accidents.

For years, the Kano State Government has played a crucial role in supporting the orphanage by providing food, clothing, and education until these children reach adulthood.

As they grow up, the boys often find work in government positions or venture into entrepreneurship, while the girls are generally married off to suitors interested in them. Since the orphanage’s inception, hundreds of girls have entered into marriage, but some women have shared their struggles with DAILY POST, expressing feelings of abandonment after their husbands divorced them. They often endure abuse and mistreatment, facing significant challenges in seeking help or reporting their situations.

Hadiza Muhammad, 40, and Halima Muhammad, 45, are among those who have suffered through domestic abuse for over twenty years of marriage, all while raising their children.

“I grew up in the Nassarawa orphanage home. I was told I was found along the Kaduna road after a car crash, and I was the only survivor. I grew up there until I was old enough to marry,” Hadiza Muhammad shared with DAILY POST about her past and current struggles.

“When we grew older, they pressured us to get married and leave the orphanage because new children kept arriving and they needed the space. We were told we had to go so things could balance out.”

“Before then, a woman took me in and sponsored most of my schooling, but we later had a fall-out, and she returned me to the orphanage when I was 17. I was just beginning to become a young woman.”

Hadiza eventually married a man from the Republic of Niger. “After almost 15 years of suffering, hardship, and abuse, we had two children. Then, he divorced me and threw me out with the kids. Now, he doesn’t even sleep at home, living like a street person. I’m helpless. I don’t know what to do. I returned to the orphanage home where I grew up, but they told me there was no space for us since we are now mothers,” Hadiza added sadly.

Halima Muhammad, a childhood friend of Hadiza, has encountered a similar situation. Her husband has also chosen to divorce her, leaving her to raise their five children alone.

“Now, our landlord wants to evict us because we can’t pay rent. I have no one to fight for my rights against my ex-husband. I’m also battling diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma due to stress and constant worry,” she explained.

Both women have urged the Kano State Government to develop a system that supports others in similar situations, as many continue to suffer from abuse and mistreatment, with some still trapped in harmful marriages.

Comrade Hafiz Sanusi Sanka, the Kano State Chairman of the International Human Rights Commission, also shared his insights with DAILY POST. He affirmed that the commission frequently receives similar complaints and is in touch with key stakeholders to seek solutions. He conveyed his hope regarding the ongoing initiatives by the Kano State Government.

“We visited the orphanage regarding this matter and had in-depth discussions. They seem to be taking meaningful steps. Personally, I’m satisfied and confident that the issue will soon be resolved,” he stated.

“There is a house designated for women in these situations, but it is too small. As we speak, the Governor has ordered the construction of 20 new houses specifically for them—whether their marriages end or their husbands pass away,” he added.

Sanka also mentioned that the government is making efforts to provide employment for those who grew up in the orphanage home. “The head of the home told me that just last week, the Governor offered jobs to 22 orphans in the house—both men and women—in government positions,” he noted.

The government’s actions are seen as a positive step towards resolving the issue. “We must continue pushing for these initiatives to be carried out to support these women,” Sanka said.

DAILY POST reached out to the authorities at the Nassarawa orphanage home for a response. However, the head of the home, Hajiya Maimunatu, indicated that she was not authorized to speak with the media.

She did, however, confirm the statement made by Comrade Sanka, the Chairman of the Kano IHRC.

Each year, numerous children are either abandoned or discovered throughout Kano State and the neighboring regions.

By legal mandate, the care of these children is entrusted to government-established institutions, ensuring they have opportunities for growth and a chance at a fulfilling life.