The President of the Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, has called for urgent and collective efforts to tackle maternal mortality in Nigeria, describing the persistent loss of women during childbirth as a preventable tragedy.
Mrs. Adeniyi made the call on Monday during an empowerment and sensitization programme organized by COWA at the Apapa Customs Command in Lagos. The event, themed “Empowering Families, Enriching Lives,” brought together women from the customs community to discuss maternal health and economic empowerment.
“Maternal mortality is something we should all put our hands on deck to tackle. People seem unaware of their options, and that is why we have brought women together to discuss it today,” she said, urging women to prioritize regular hospital visits, antenatal checks, and self-care.
The COWA President lamented recent cases of deaths during childbirth, stressing that proper awareness and access to medical attention can drastically reduce such incidents. She also highlighted the dual responsibilities of women in nurturing their families while safeguarding their own health.
As part of the programme, participants received sewing machines, ovens, and other tools to support small-scale businesses. Mrs. Adeniyi explained that COWA’s empowerment initiatives are designed to help women build sustainable livelihoods, particularly in the face of frequent transfers that often take customs officers away from their families.
“We don’t just give them items to work with; we teach them how to manage funds and grow businesses. Some of the women you saw today started training three months ago and have already presented cakes made by them. That is the impact of what we do,” she noted.
She further outlined COWA’s flagship initiative, “Healthy Wife, Wealthy Life,” which combines economic empowerment with health education. The programme, held three times annually in Abuja, also brings together women from sister associations, including the military and other paramilitary organizations, for training, exercise, and trade exhibitions.
In his remarks, the Customs Area Controller of Apapa Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba, commended COWA for its commitment to female empowerment and social inclusion. He praised the association’s ongoing initiatives, which include skills acquisition, school interventions, care for special needs children, and business grants, pledging continued support from the Command.
With its growing reach and practical interventions, COWA says it will continue to expand its empowerment programmes across customs formations nationwide, promoting maternal health and economic independence for women.
