COWA Empowers Officers’ Wives for Financial Independence
Author: Bimpe Audu.
The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering officers’ wives with the knowledge and skills needed to build successful businesses, as part of efforts to promote financial independence and improve family livelihoods.
The initiative took centre stage on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, during an empowerment programme themed “Idea to Income: An Entrepreneurial Leap,” held at the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), Gwagwalada, Abuja. The programme focused on equipping participants with practical entrepreneurial skills, wealth management strategies, and business development techniques.
Addressing participants, COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, said the programme is designed to help women maximise business opportunities by remaining focused and applying the knowledge gained to improve their lives, families, and communities.
“We are here for a mission. Learn how to turn ideas into income, manage your wealth, and multiply it. I encourage you to pay attention to the facilitator so you can leave here with knowledge that will positively impact you, your family, and your community,” she said.
Facilitator and entrepreneurship development expert, Mrs. Uchenna Ibe, said entrepreneurship is about creating value by identifying problems and providing solutions, stressing that many women possess valuable skills but often lack the knowledge required to transform those skills into thriving businesses.
“Many women have the skills and the training, but they don’t know how to run a business. No problem, no business. If you have not identified a need, then you don’t have a business. Entrepreneurship is about creating value, taking calculated risks, and continuously improving your business so it can grow,” she said.
Mrs. Ibe also encouraged participants to distinguish between a hobby and a business, understand their target market, embrace mentorship, and adopt a growth mindset that supports innovation and continuous learning. She advised the women to start from within their communities, noting that every gathering presents an opportunity to market their products and services.
The programme featured interactive sessions on business development, customer identification, personal branding, wealth creation, and problem-solving. Participants also took part in a business clinic where they identified challenges affecting their enterprises and received practical guidance on developing sustainable business solutions.
