Bomba Dauda
Kaduna was on Saturday 7th February, 2026 a hub of culture and elite gathering as the families of Mr Sam Ologunorisa (SAN) and Late Captain Saleh Usman formally united in the traditional marriage of their children, Femi Sam Ologunorisa and Miss Nasara Saleh Usman.
The ceremony, held in Kaduna, attracted prominent political figures, legal luminaries, traditional rulers and senior government officials from across the country, reflecting the stature of the two families.
The marriage symbolised cultural integration, as the groom is of Yoruba extraction from Ondo State, while the bride, hails from Kaduna South Senatorial District of Kaduna State and belongs to the Ham ethnic nationality.
Speaking on behalf of the groom’s family, Mr Sam Ologunorisa (SAN) formally welcomed the bride into the Ologunorisa family, assuring her of love, acceptance and parental care. He described the marriage as a bond between families and cultures, pledging the family’s commitment to supporting the couple in building a peaceful and successful home.
“This union is not only between two individuals but between two families and cultures. We are determined to stand by them and guide them towards a stable and successful future,” he said.
In her remarks, the bride’s mother, Barrister Deborah Usman, who also holds the traditional title of Jakadiyan Jaba in the Ham cultural hierarchy, urged the couple to shun external interference and uphold faith, patience and mutual respect as the foundation of their marriage. She advised them to resolve disagreements constructively within the family and remain committed to moral values.
Chairman of the occasion, Nasarawa State Governor, Engr. Abdullahi Sule, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Hon. Konte Yakubu, counselled the couple to embrace love, tolerance and sacrifice, describing marriage as a lifelong institution.
Among the dignitaries present were former Governor of Kaduna State, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero; Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), 19 Northern States and the FCT, Rev. John Joseph Hayab; former ECWA General Secretary, Rev. Dr Yunusa Nmadu Jr; former Minister of State for Aviation, Hon. Hassan Hyat; and Mrs Amina Bajoga, wife of a former Deputy Governor of Kaduna State.
Others included former Speaker of the Kaduna State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Yusuf Zailani; Secretary to the Taraba State Government, Timothy Katabs; the Emir of Jama’a, Alhaji Muhammadu Isa Muhammadu II; and the Agwam Takad, Mr Tobias Nkom Wada.
The groom, Femi Sam Ologunorisa, disclosed that he met his wife in 2021 in Abuja through mutual friends, initially brought together by plans to form a Bible study group. He said what began as fellowship grew into love and commitment.
The ceremony featured colourful displays of Yoruba and Ham traditional rites, cultural music and dances. The families announced that the white wedding would hold next week in Abuja.
