PORT HARCOURT/Nigeria: National President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, expressed her commitment to addressing the specific needs of her members, enabling them to venture into businesses while fulfilling their domestic responsibilities. Adeniyi disclosed this during her inaugural visit to the Nigeria Customs Service Zone C, Zonal Headquarters in Port Harcourt, Rivers, on Wednesday.
Adeniyi outlined COWA’s goals, which encompass organizing seminars and workshops for Customs officers’ wives and the wider community. The association aims to contribute to the federal government’s poverty eradication initiatives, reduce infant and maternal mortality, support the welfare of Customs officers’ wives, and establish schools and skills acquisition centers. Emphasizing a robust Board of Trustees and executive team, she highlighted identified areas of need, including family health, skills acquisition, business training, and empowerment programs.
“We estimate that about 1,200 COWA members will benefit from these training sessions by the end of 2024,” Adeniyi stated.
During the visit, Adeniyi congratulated Zonal Coordinator ACG Olugboyega Peters and commended the officers for their dedication to facilitating trade, combating smuggling, and ensuring national security. She urged officers’ wives not to add unnecessary stress to their husbands, emphasizing the importance of creating a peaceful and comforting home environment.
Expressing joy at the Area 1 chapter’s initiative, Adeniyi commended their two-day seminar on drug abuse, aligning with the association’s campaign to eliminate the scourge. She asserted, “Our campaign against drug abuse was conceived out of a compelling need to support the government in eliminating the scourge of hard drugs in the Country.”
In her welcome address, COWA Nigeria Customs Area 1 Command Port Harcourt Chapter Chairperson, Barr. Mrs. Maryam Mustapha Hashim, hailed Adeniyi’s leadership qualities and anticipated positive growth under her stewardship. Hashim highlighted recent accomplishments, including the setup of the chapter’s administrative structure, renovation of the COWA office, and repairs to the association’s bus.
Acknowledging the revitalization of COWA, Zonal Coordinator ACG Olugboyega Peters praised the efforts of CGC’s wife in driving positive changes. He traced COWA’s formation in 2009, emphasizing its role in promoting the welfare of Customs officers’ families, fostering unity, friendship, and understanding among members.
The event’s climax featured the presentation of the Award of Excellence to Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi and her induction as a fellow of the Chartered Institute of Mentoring and Coaching by Dr. Rotimi Matthew, the Director General of the institute. The occasion also included cultural dance displays, drama presentations by police officers’ wives, and the distribution of food items to widows of customs fallen heroes.
