COWA President urges women to prioritise their well-being, empowers Apapa Customs officers’ wives

The National President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Kikelomo Adeniyi, has urged officers’ wives to prioritize their personal health and well-being, emphasining that a healthy mother is fundamental to the overall well -being of the family.

Speaking at a sensitization and empowerment program held at Apapa Customs command in Lagos on Monday, Adeniyi stressed the urgent need to tackle the rising rate of maternal mortality, a situation she described as unacceptable in the current age.

She lamented the loss of a few women in recent months due to complications from childbirth, stating that such deaths are preventable with the right awareness, information and medical attention.

The sensitization programme themed “Healthy Wives, Wealthy Lives: Empowering Families, Enriching Lives”
Adeniyi explained, was designed to encourage women to be proactive to visit hospitals, get regular check-ups, and prioritize their health while nurturing their families.

She said, “There are so many technologies in terms of medicines that people can take advantage of. But it’s like people are not aware or maybe they’re just non chalant about it. And that’s why we have brought women together to discuss about that today to sensitize them on the importance of going to the hospital, checking themselves properly, and taking care of themselves as a mother while they are nurturing the home and their children.”

Adeniyi reminded mothers not to neglect themselves for the sake of their children
stating that, “Because God has given you those children does not mean you should neglect yourself. Take care of yourself, then you would be able to take care of your husband and the children.

“If as a wife, you are not healthy, there is no way your life or the home will be balanced. A woman must be sound health-wise even before you begin to empower her. How do you empower someone that is not healthy? That is why we started the Healthy Wife, Wealthy Life initiative.”

Adeniyi reiterated that COWA’s mission is to empower members to ensure they have sustainable means of income, particularly given the frequent transfer of their husbands across the country.

“Our husbands might get transfer anytime and the wife will be in Lagos. So the empowerment is just for them to not solely rely on what will be coming from the man. And that’s why we try to empower women with skill acquisition.

“Even as we empower them with things to work with, we also want to empower their lives. We want to empower them with information that they need to keep them healthy.

“For us at COWA while we do this exercise, I also tell our women to bring out their wares and sell. So as we’re having fun, we’re making money, ” she said.

Adeniyi urged officers’ wives who haven’t yet joined COWA to do so, emphasizing the opportunity to share ideas and impact lives.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Controller of the Apapa Customs Command, Comptroller Oladare Oshoba, expressed appreciation for COWA’s impact under Mrs. Adeniyi’s leadership.

“Your commitment to female gender emancipation has been very encouraging because women are not just part of the conversation, they are leading it, shaping it and redefining what’s possible.

“From activities like skill acquisition, construction of schools, provision of learning materials, addressing issues of Maternal health, care for special needs children, to provision of grants for artisanship, COWA and the NCS have always risen to the occasion, ” he said

Oshoba said the passion and selflessness COWA is applying towards promoting its programs and lifting women higher have been encouraging.

He urged the beneficiaries of the event to use their new skills to contribute positively to society and assured COWA ‘s leadership of the Apapa Command’s continued support for the association’s noble causes.

The sensitization program also featured health talks from various resource persons, including Mabel Okeriafor, Bukky Aluko, Mr. Tunde Adunola, and Zonal Nursing Officer, Zone A, Comptroller Victoria Bishen.

The speakers highlighted red flags women should be aware of, right from pregnancy to reduce the risk of having children with special needs.

In her presentation, child development psychologist, Mabel Okeriafor particularly stressed that with the right information, sensitization and regular hospital visits, the challenge of special needs children can be better managed or even prevented.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of empowerment kits, including ovens and sewing machines, to officers’ wives of the Apapa Customs command.