By Peace Udugba
The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Niger/Kogi Area Command, has unveiled a Skill Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Training Centre in Minna, Niger State, as part of efforts to promote women’s empowerment, economic independence and self-reliance.
The initiative was officially unveiled during the flag-off of an intensive Skill Acquisition, Entrepreneurship Education and Development Programme held at the Niger/Kogi Area Command premises.
The ceremony was attended by the Acting Customs Area Controller, Niger/Kogi Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Solomon Nwankwegu; COWA Chairperson, Dr Emilia Onyekachi Nwankwegu; former COWA Chairperson, Hajia Fatima Abdulkadir Umar; senior officers of the Command; COWA members; representatives of empowerment partners; facilitators and other stakeholders.
The programme is being implemented in partnership with Abridged Memorial Care Foundation, the sole empowerment partner, while Emil Spa and Beauty Haven serves as the technical implementation partner.
The training is designed to equip beneficiaries with practical vocational skills and entrepreneurship knowledge to enable them to establish businesses, become financially independent and engage in sustainable economic activities.
The four major areas of training include tailoring, fashion designing, beauty therapy and cosmetology.
Beyond vocational skills, participants will also receive training in entrepreneurship education, financial literacy, business management, customer relations and marketing strategies to prepare them for successful business ventures.
Speaking at the event, the COWA Chairperson, Dr Emilia Onyekachi Nwankwegu, emphasised 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, achieve 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, noting that genuine empowerment goes beyond temporary interventions to building capacity, unlocking potential and creating sustainable livelihoods.
The Foundation also pledged its continued collaboration with COWA and the technical implementation partner to ensure that the programme delivers meaningful benefits to participants.
The Niger/Kogi Area Command commended the leadership of COWA, Abridged Memorial Care Foundation and Emil Spa and Beauty Haven for their collaboration in establishing the initiative.
The Command also urged beneficiaries to embrace the opportunity with dedication and commitment, stressing that skills acquisition remains a vital pathway to entrepreneurship, self-reliance and sustainable community development.
