From 3rd Left, he President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi (middle) flanked by resource persons; during the women empowerment programme in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday
Lagos, Sept. 29, 2025, The President, Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, has called for urgent and collective action to tackle maternal mortality in Nigeria.
Adeniyi made the call during the COWA empowerment and sensitization programme at the Apapa Customs Command on Monday in Lagos.
The event, themed “Empowering Families, Enriching Lives,” also featured the distribution of sewing machines, ovens, and other empowerment tools to participants.
She described maternal mortality as a tragedy that should no longer be occurring in world.
Adeniyi lamented the recent loss of a few women during childbirth, emphasizing that such deaths were preventable with the right awareness and medical attention.
“Maternal mortality is something we should all put our hands on deck to tackle.
“People seem not aware of their options; that’s why we have brought women together to discuss about it” she said.
The COWA president said that the event’s goal was to sensitize women on the importance of regular hospital visits, antenatal checks, and self-care.
“As mothers, while nurturing children and supporting their husbands, it is important that the women remain healthy.
” The essence of COWA is to help women build sustainable livelihoods, especially given the frequent transfers that take their husbands away from home.
“We don’t just give them things to work with; we teach them how to manage funds and grow businesses.
“Some of the women you saw today just started training three months ago, and they already presented a cake made by them. That is the impact of what we do.”
” COWA’s flagship initiative, the Healthy Wife, Wealthy Life, designed to combine economic empowerment with health education,”Adeniyi said.
The COWA President revealed that the initiative holds three sessions annually in Abuja, often bringing together women from sister associations, including those from the army and other paramilitary organisations.
She said COWA also encouraged women to bring their wares for display and sales during these gatherings adding that they were having fun and exercising, also making money.
Adeniyi reiterated COWA’s commitment to enriching lives through empowerment and education, saying the association would continue to expand its reach and encourage more participation from women across all Customs commands nationwide.
In his welcome remarks, the Customs Area Controller, Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, thanked COWA for its passion and commitment to drive diversity, inclusion and female gender emancipation.
“With the work being done by COWA, you’re proving that empowerment is not just by words but actions.
” Your activities such as; skills acquisition, intervention at schools, care for special needs children, grants for businesses, among others are all commendable.
“The passion with which you go about COWA activities is very impressive. On behalf of the officers and men of Apapa Command,”Oshoba said
The Apapa Customs Comptroller, assured COWA of the command continuous support to enable them achieve their mandate of support women
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-R: President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, presenting a certificate and an oven as part of COWA’s empowerment programme in Apapa, Lagos, on Monday
