Association launches “Green Border Day” in Ogun State, pledges to plant 5,000 trees and transform border communities into eco-friendly hubs.
The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has unveiled a major empowerment initiative aimed at tackling unemployment among women in Nigeria through waste recycling and environmental entrepreneurship programmes.
Announcing the initiative during the flag-off of COWA Green Border Day on Monday in Idiroko, Ogun State, the National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi who is also the wife of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said the association plans to train and empower 1,000 women across the country.
Mrs. Adeniyi described the initiative as a bold step toward building “cleaner, greener, and self-sustaining border communities,” noting that the association’s goal is to make environmental protection a tool for women’s empowerment and economic independence.
She explained that the project was inspired by the COWA Green Borders and Sustainability Summit recently held in Abuja, which convened stakeholders from government agencies, development partners, and the private sector to discuss strategies for strengthening resilience and sustainability in Nigeria’s border regions.
Under the new programme, 5,000 trees will be planted within one year, while COWA will establish a Green Border Centre a national hub for climate education, renewable energy innovation, and recycling-based entrepreneurship.
Mrs. Adeniyi also urged Nigerians to see value in recyclable waste, saying:
“Plastics and other materials people discard daily can actually become a source of income. By recycling and repurposing, we can reduce poverty, create jobs, and contribute meaningfully to our nation’s economy.”
In her welcome address, the Chairperson of COWA, Ogun 1 Command, Mrs. Ajoke Otunla, commended Mrs. Adeniyi for her “visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment.”
She added that COWA’s new focus on sustainability will not only transform border communities but also inspire a new generation of women to embrace innovation and environmental stewardship.
Similarly, the Area Comptroller of the Ogun 1 Command, Mr. Godwin Otunla, praised the COWA President for expanding the association’s scope beyond humanitarian work to include environmental sustainability.
He pledged the Customs Command’s full support, affirming that the initiative aligns with the Nigeria Customs Service’s vision of maintaining “safe, clean, and prosperous border communities.”
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