The National President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Kikelomo Adeniyi has reaffirmed her commitment to uplifting members through skill acquisition, announcing a shift in the association’s empowerment program towards environmental sustainability and the development of green skills.
Adeniyi stated this in Lagos on Sunday during an empowerment program for Customs officers’ wives in Federal Operations Unit, Zone ‘A’, where 37 beneficiaries including widows and retirees receive starter kits and cash gifts.
She stated that while the traditional vocational skilllls were beneficial, COWA is now pursuing a global agenda, aligning with discussions on climate change and sustainable development.
“We are shifting focus to give our woman green skills. The sewing machines are good, but we are thinking beyond just sewing machines and catering. We want to go global. Everything around you—those wastes—we are going to be turning it to wealth and at the same time, recycling.”
She said the new focus is anchored in the COWA Green Border Sustainability Initiative designed to empower women while restoring the ecosystem and mitigating the effects of climate change.
According to her, the new project aims to teach women green skills to create products and wealth from household waste, establish eco-hubs starting in Abuja, with chapters in 10 border areas, to serve as training and research centers.
“Green Border Sustainability Initiative is a new project that COWA is working on. It’s about giving our women sustainable work. Giving them something to do in terms of green. We want to move away from the usual. We want to go global.
“That’s what everybody is talking about, climate change and all of that. We want to give our women tools to work with and also work in a cleaner environment. We want to teach them how to make something out of the waste they generate from their home and make good money and also start something in recycling.
“We are creating eco hubs for women where they can come together and learn skills in green especially at the border areas. Sometimes we neglect those people at the border areas and they are the ones going through a lot. When you go to the border area, there are so many women there.They dump refuse here and there. Sometimes they burn it. All of this has a way of impacting our lives negatively. So we are teaching them how to segregate.
“We are teaching them how to make use of this waste. And we are teaching them how to turn waste into money. That’s basically what Green Border is all about.
aside from restoring the ecosystem, ” she said.
Adeniyi said as part of effort to counter deforestation, the association recently planted 73 trees at the Illela border with plans to visit Seme and Idiroko soon.
She urged the beneficiaries of the business start- up kits to maximize the opportunity.
“These are not toys. These are things that can generate money for you and use it to support your families. I want you to be a trainer. You need to also pick up people that you can train, ” she said.
The COWA President also stressed the importance of health, advising members to take time to exercise and regularly check their blood pressure, as according to her, women are the nurturers and domestic engineers of their families.
In his remarks, Controller FOU, Zone A, Comptroller Muhammed Shuaibu expressed the unit’s dedication to COWA’s welfare programs.
Comptroller Shuaibu stated that the initiative is “a vital effort to uplift the families of officers who serve and protect the nation,” emphasizing that the organization’s strength lies in the support and well-being of their families.
He lauded the program for transforming once-dependent wives into entrepreneurs and ensuring that widows and families of fallen officers continue to receive targeted support.
In her welcome address, Acting Chairperson, COWA FOU Zone A, Dr Juliet Nnenna expressed appreciation to the COWA President for her passion and dedication to the empowerment of COWA members across the nation.
She added that COWA President has championed the cause of financial independence for women, believing that when a wife is empowered, the entire family stands stronger.
“Your dream is now our reality and your leadership continues to light the path for us all, “she said.
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