Musa Na-Allah, Sokoto
To strengthen family livelihoods and promote sustainable development in Nigeria’s border communities, the President of the Nigerian Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) and wife of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, has launched a comprehensive empowerment drive under the Green Border Sustainability Initiative.
The program focuses on women’s economic independence, family welfare, and child health promotion.
During her visit to the Illela Border Command in Sokoto State, Mrs. Adeniyi urged women to see themselves as active partners in national growth by engaging in productive ventures capable of sustaining their families and reducing dependency.
She encouraged them to establish small-scale businesses from home, thereby contributing to household income and community resilience.
Mrs. Adeniyi also used the platform to emphasize the importance of the ongoing National Immunization Campaign against Measles-Rubella and other childhood killer diseases.
She described child immunization as a “moral and social responsibility” essential to safeguarding the future of the nation.
Reaffirming COWA’s mission, she noted that the Association has consistently supported women through vocational training, distribution of grinding and sewing machines, and financial assistance aimed at fostering self-reliance among women in Customs communities and beyond.
During a courtesy visit to the Wife of the Sokoto State Governor, Fatima Ahmed Aliyu, at the Government House, Mrs. Adeniyi announced that COWA is constructing a multi-purpose Skills Acquisition Centre in Abuja.
The centre, she explained, will serve as a national hub for vocational education and entrepreneurship development, equipping thousands of women with income-generating skills to promote inclusive economic growth.
She further called for stronger collaboration between COWA and the Sokoto State Government, particularly the Office of the First Lady, to advance initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, family welfare, and environmental sustainability in border areas.
In her remarks, Hajiya Fatima Ahmed Aliyu commended Mrs. Adeniyi’s leadership and vision, describing the Green Border Sustainability Initiative as a “transformative model for grassroots empowerment.”
She reiterated her commitment to supporting women through access to startup capital, training, and business tools to help them thrive as entrepreneurs and community builders.
As a mark of appreciation, the Governor’s wife presented a souvenir to Mrs. Adeniyi in recognition of her tireless advocacy for women’s empowerment, family health, and sustainable livelihoods across Nigeria.
The visit to Sokoto is part of COWA’s nationwide outreach to strengthen the social and economic resilience of families in Customs border communities, demonstrating the Association’s commitment to building stronger families, healthier children, and a more sustainable future.
