Excitements As COWA President, Kikelomo Adeniyi Put Smiles on Apapa Customs Officers Wives Faces

By DAPO OLAWUNI

The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, has called on women in the association to prioritise their health, describing it as the foundation for stronger families and prosperous communities.
She made this appeal at a sensitization workshop themed “Empowering Families, Enriching Lives,” held at Apapa Command on Monday, 29th September, 2025.

Adeniyi called for urgent and collective action to tackle maternal mortality in Nigeria, describing it as a tragedy that should no longer be occurring in today’s world.
According to her, many women often neglect their own well-being while caring for their families, warning that such neglect can have long-term consequences for both mothers and their households.

She explained that the workshop was designed to encourage women, particularly wives and mothers, to take better care of their physical and mental wellbeing. She noted that health is wealth, adding that neglecting personal wellbeing diminishes the ability of women to build stable homes.

Speaking, she said “We are talking about maternal mortality and why women, especially those with special needs, should take care of themselves.
Maternal mortality is something that we should all put our hands on deck to tackle in the country. And that’s why we’re doing that in COWA. Because over the past months, we’ve had a few women die giving birth. And it shouldn’t happen at this age.
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“There’s so many technology in terms of medicine that people can take advantage of. But it’s like people are not aware or maybe they’re just not challenged about it. And that’s why we have brought women together to discuss about that with them 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 their children in the hospital”

Speaking on the highpoint of the event which saw the COWA President distrusting working tools including tailoring machines and ovens to some of the women, she explained that the essence of COWA is empowering people and impacting lives.

“Our mission is to see that all COWA women have something doing. Something that can sustain them while their husbands are away. You know, our husbands, they might transfer them to Sokoto today and the wife will be in Lagos.

“It’s 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. We don’t just give them things to work with. We teach them how to manage the funds and make more money so that they can be more established”
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The COWA president also used the opportunity to highlight the plight of children living with disabilities, calling for inclusion, love, and care to replace stigma and discrimination.she reiterated COWA’s commitment to changing negative perceptions around disability and promoting a culture of acceptance.

The Customs Area Controller (CAC) of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, lauded the COWA for turning its advocacy on diversity, inclusion, and women’s emancipation into practical actions.

He said the association’s initiatives in skills acquisition, support for children with special needs, and the provision of grants, are commendable efforts driven with impressive passion and commitment.

Oshoba assured that officers and men of the Apapa Command would continue to stand behind COWA in its activities, stressing that the command recognizes the association’s role in advancing women’s empowerment, child development, and social welfare. He pledged sustained collaboration to help COWA expand the reach and impact of its programs.

“With the work being done by COWA, you’re proving that empowerment isn’t 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, I assure you that the Command will always support COWA,” the Apapa Controller said.

The Zonal Nursing Officer, Zone A of the Nigeria Customs Service, Comptroller Victoria Bishen, in her presentation stressed the need for greater awareness on maternal health, describing it as an issue that affects not just women but families and communities at large.

The medical expert noted that maternal birth is a family and societal concern, as the loss or suffering of a mother during childbirth destabilises homes .She also emphasised that with proper care, timely medical support, and regular health checks, many challenges associated with childbirth can be prevented.

Comptroller Bishen pointed out that maternal health extends beyond the physical to emotional and psychological wellbeing. She explained that women often shoulder multiple responsibilities that can weigh heavily on them, making it vital to maintain mental and emotional balance.

According to her, women who are emotionally sound are better able to nurture their families and contribute to building stronger communities. She encouraged women to embrace self-care, seek medical help when needed, and support each other in coping with maternal challenges.

She further highlighted the importance of solidarity among women, stressing that no mother should face maternal health challenges alone. Bishen urged women to share knowledge, create safe spaces for open dialogue, and support one another, noting that when women stand together, lives are saved and families are strengthened.

Apart from her, other reaource persons who spoke at the event include; a special care giver, Mrs Mabel Okeriafor, a member of COWA, Mrs Abiola Aluko and Mr Tunde Adunola.