The River State government has cautioned popular matchmaking cleric, Apostle Chibuzor Chinyere against running fowl of existing child protection laws.
This came to the fore when officials of the State Ministry of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation recently met the General Overseer of Omega Power Ministries in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
Last week, Chinyere backpedal on his plans to arrange the marriage of one of his adopted daughters, a 21-year-old autistic woman named Chiameka Chibuzor.
The Cleric had offered a package of financial incentives and welfare guarantees to any man that agrees to marry her, said via a Facebook post by Chinyere, who described the arrangement as being in the young woman’s best interests.
The incentives, include financial support, a free house for life, and a house that will be built in the names of both the husband and the wife.
In addition, Chinyere revealed that staff from his organization will always check on them from time to time to make sure she is safe and doing well, according to the press statement, which listed certain terms and conditions alongside other incentives.
The government insisted that the cleric intent may have been carryout in good faith, however, Chinyere did not comply with existing state laws.
After listening to the various submissions, the cleric apologized, and resolved to comply with legal requirements, including proper registration and approval processes for handling minors henceforth.
Apostle Chinyere admitted he was unaware of some of the legal provisions guiding the care of minors and assured authorities of his readiness to correct the identified lapses and work closely with the Ministry going forward.
Representatives of the International Federation of Women Lawyers, Rivers State Branch, and top officials of the Ministry, who emphasized the need to uphold child protection laws and proper welfare procedures, attended the meeting.
Earlier in March 2026, the cleric organised the marriage of a non-verbal autistic man, widely known as Aboy, to an older woman, amid backlash by Nigerians.
The widely publicized wedding drew mixed reactions, with critics raising concerns about consent, dignity, and the ethics of arranging marriages for people with cognitive disabilities, according to multiple reports.
The State government has face backlash on social media over its silent posture over Apostle Chibuzor’s marriage campaigns for his autistic son and daughter, following speculations that marriage cannot take the place of duty care for children with special needs in a sane society.
