By Correspondent in Sango Ota.
The Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA) has launched a national Green Border Initiative aimed at transforming Nigeria’s border communities into models of environmental sustainability through tree planting, waste recycling, and women’s empowerment.
Speaking at the flag-off of the First COWA Green Border Day in Idiroko, Ogun State, on Monday,the National President of COWA, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, said the initiative represents a bold step towards cleaner, greener, and more self-sustaining communities along the nation’s borders.
Adeniyi, who is also the wife of the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), announced that as part of the initiative, over 5,000 trees would be planted within one year, while 1,000 women would be trained and empowered through waste recycling and environmental entrepreneurship programmes.
“Today, we are not just cleaning or planting trees, but launching a movement of hope, responsibility, and transformation that connects our people, our borders, and our planet.
“Together, we can transform our borders into models of sustainability,communities where environmental stewardship, social empowerment, and national service unite,”she said.
The COWA president explained that the initiative stemmed from the recently held COWA Green Borders and Sustainability Summit in Abuja, which brought together leaders from government, development agencies, and the private sector to discuss strategies for building resilient border communities.
According to Adeniyi, the Green Border Centre being developed by the association will serve as a national hub for climate education, innovation, and women’s empowerment, focusing on renewable energy, recycling, and sustainable livelihood training.
In his remarks, the Area Comptroller of Ogun 1 Area Command, Mr. Godwin Otunla, commended Mrs. Adeniyi for expanding COWA’s scope beyond humanitarian activities to include sustainability and ecological protection.
Otunla assured that the command would continue to support all COWA initiatives that align with the Customs Service’s vision of maintaining safe, clean, and prosperous border communities.
“A greener border environment is not just beneficial to our communities but also vital to our mission of ensuring secure and thriving borders,” he said.
Our correspondent reports that the he COWA Green Border Initiative, a year-long national campaign, seeks to integrate environmental consciousness with community empowerment across Nigeria’s border regions.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
