President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, on Monday urged mothers to ensure their children receive proper immunization against all forms of diseases and infections.
Adeniyi made the call in Sokoto while inaugurating the association’s new secretariat, part of efforts to strengthen grassroots operations and expand women empowerment initiatives across the Customs community.
She emphasised the importance of healthcare, urging mothers to prioritise immunisation and other services. Adeniyi also pledged to support the Customs Clinic to improve healthcare delivery in Sokoto.
The COWA President inaugurated a tree planting campaign and distributed food items to widows and indigent families within the Customs community as part of her humanitarian support programme.
Adeniyi also inaugurated the distribution of starter packs to women entrepreneurs who had completed skills training initiated by COWA, helping them become self-reliant and economically empowered.
She stated that the newly inaugurated secretariat would serve as a coordination hub for COWA activities in Sokoto and neighbouring states, enhancing service delivery and welfare management.
“Our goal is to equip women with sustainable skills.
“We’re not just teaching income generation, but also how to manage and sustain it, especially when husbands are absent,” she explained.
Wife of Sokoto State Governor, Hajia Fatima Aliyu, hailed the secretariat project and humanitarian programmes as strong contributions to the advancement of women empowerment in Nigeria.
Aliyu said empowering women restored their dignity and productivity.
She noted that tree planting addressed climate change, while skill training and healthcare enhanced overall well-being in communities.
She assured continuous support to COWA and urged wives of other security personnel to emulate the initiative and collaborate on addressing community development and local security issues.
Earlier, Sokoto State COWA Chairperson, Mrs Hajara Idris, said the initiative aligned with the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Agenda, targeting empowerment for widows and low-income families.
Idris said food items including rice, semovita, vegetable oil, and spaghetti were distributed to beneficiaries.
She lauded the national president’s vision and commitment to community service.
Sokoto/Zamfara Area Commander of NCS, Mr Aliyu Idris, appealed to the national president for assistance in upgrading the NCS Clinic to ensure quality care for staff and residents.
He stated that children of deceased officers and serving personnel benefited from scholarships and medical support through COWA, showing the association’s deep commitment to member welfare.
A widow, Mrs A’isha Halliru, thanked COWA on behalf of others, saying although their husbands were gone; the association had given them renewed hope through consistent care and empowerment.
