As part of efforts to promote women’s empowerment, self-reliance, and economic independence, the Niger/Kogi Area Command of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has flagged off an intensive skills acquisition, entrepreneurship education, and development programme at the Command premises in Minna, Niger State.
The programme was officially unveiled at a ceremony attended by the Command’s Acting Customs Area Controller, Deputy Comptroller Solomon Nwankwegu; the COWA Chairperson, Dr. Emilia Onyekachi Nwankwegu; the former COWA Chairperson, Hajia Fatima Abdulkadir Umar; senior officers of the Command, COWA members, representatives of the empowerment partners, facilitators, and other stakeholders.
According to the Command’s Public Relations Officer, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Abubakar AbdulKareem Zakariya, the initiative is being implemented in partnership with Abridged Memorial Care Foundation as the Sole Empowerment Partner, alongside Emil Spa and Beauty Haven as the technical implementation partner.
Zakariya stated that the programme is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical vocational skills and entrepreneurship knowledge to enhance their capacity for self-reliance and sustainable economic activities.
The training covers four major vocational areas — tailoring, fashion designing, beauty therapy, and cosmetology. Participants will also receive entrepreneurship education in financial literacy, business management, customer relations, and marketing strategies to prepare them for viable business ventures.
Speaking at the event, the COWA Chairperson, Dr. Emilia Onyekachi Nwankwegu, highlighted the importance of the initiative in advancing women’s empowerment and supporting the empowerment agenda of the COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi.
She reaffirmed COWA’s commitment to creating opportunities for women to acquire practical skills, attain financial independence, and contribute meaningfully to economic development.
Also speaking on behalf of Abridged Memorial Care Foundation, Dr. Emilia Nwankwegu described the programme as an investment in human capital development, adding that sustainable empowerment goes beyond temporary interventions to building capacity, unlocking potential, and creating lasting livelihood opportunities.
The Foundation reaffirmed its commitment to working with COWA and the technical implementation partner to ensure meaningful outcomes for the beneficiaries.
The Niger/Kogi Area Command commended the leadership of COWA, Abridged Memorial Care Foundation, and Emil Spa and Beauty Haven for their collaboration in bringing the initiative to fruition.
It also urged beneficiaries to embrace the opportunity with dedication and commitment, noting that skills acquisition remains an important pathway to entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and sustainable community development.
