By Bob Peters
Customs Officers’ Wives Association, COWA Onne chapter has started distributing Rice, vegetable oil and other food items to cushion the effects of hardship in the country among its members, orphans and especially wives of the fallen heroes and the less privileged
Speaking during the distribution of the materials at Customs Barracks Ebubu Eleme, Rivers state, weekend, the Chairperson of COWA Onne, Customs command, Mrs Yakaka Baba Imam said she was motivated by the kind-heartedness of the COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi who has taken it upon herself to improve the welfare of members.
She said the COWA National president has in different fora, distributed food items, vegetable oils, detergents among others to COWA members and the less privileged as palliatives to support them, especially during this trying period.
In November 2023, at Onne customs command, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, wife of the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi had at the commissioning of COWA Secretariat, Canteen and unisex salon distributed some food items including bags of Rice, vegetable oil, tomatoes paste among others.
Speaking at the event, Mrs Adeniyi said that one of the aims and objectives of the Association was to improve the welfare of officers’ wives at the Onne Customs command through empowerment among others.
Yakaka Baba Imam said that COWA Onne chapter was emulating the good works of the wife of the Comptroller General of Customs BA Adeniyi MFR who has taken it upon herself to attend to the needs of the members and the less privileged.
In her words, “My motivation is to empower the women, orphans, the fallen heroes’ wives and their children, motivate them and give them a sense of belonging.”
For those who are yet to register and identify with COWA, she admonished that they should identify with the Association as according to her, “come out and register with COWA, there are lots of benefits, lots of things to enjoy. Be part of COWA.”
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She promised that the distribution of such palliatives would be a continuous one.
On her part, COWA Onne liaison officer, SC Leticia Ikegwuonu said Mrs. Yakaka Baba Imam was a generous mother, a loving woman who would always think about how to empower COWA members and also ever willing to know how they are faring.
She said the kind gesture shown to COWA members was highly appreciated even as she encouraged others who are yet to identify with the Association to do that quickly to enable them to benefit from the largesse that COWA is offering.
Also speaking, one of the recipients, Mrs Nurideen Aisha Dauda commended the COWA Chairperson for her kind gesture towards them even as she prayed to Almighty Allah to continue to bless her.
Earlier in his speech, the Customs Barracks Chairman and Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Enforcement, Onne Customs, DC J Ejeh welcomed the Chairperson, and other members to the Barracks and thanked them for finding time to come.
He wished them a happy stay at the Barracks and urged those who had not joined COWA to do that immediately to benefit from all the things that COWA was doing.
In her vote of thanks, Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of Valuation, Onne customs command and also executive member of COWA, DC H Abubakar, praised COWA members for keeping the Barracks clean.
She noted the last time they visited, the Barracks was not as clean as it is now, saying COWA has done a lot to transform the cleanliness of the Barracks.
She noted that women should take the lead in making sure that their family is happy.
Continuing, she admonished the officers to always make their husbands happy insisting that their husbands can only work well when they are happy, “women should step up their games and make their husbands happy. When they are happy, husbands go the extra mile”, even as she insisted,” your husbands are the ones generating revenue for the government, and the revenue goes a long way in helping the nation,” she maintained.
Among COWA executive members present at the occasion was the Deputy comptroller of customs in charge of WAX Bonded Terminal, DC IP Nwegbeni.
The high point of the event was the distribution of palliatives such as Rice, and vegetable oil among others and a facility inspection of COWA Canteen, Salon and Tuck Shops.
