Customs, COWA Empower 1,000 Entrepreneurs with Grants and Tools at Seme Border

The Seme Border Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), has empowered 1,000 entrepreneurs with ₦50,000 grants and business equipment under a transformative initiative that combined medical outreach, environmental sustainability, and economic empowerment.

The event, held at the Officers’ Mess, Seme Area Command, brought together government officials, traditional rulers, and community stakeholders for a holistic programme that merged the Green Border Initiative with the Customs Cares Medical Outreach and Empowerment Programme.

As part of the initiative, beneficiaries received industrial sewing machines, grinding machines, gas burners, and cylinders, alongside free laboratory tests, medications, and eye care services. Each participant was also given a ₦50,000 startup grant to support small-scale enterprises and improve livelihoods within border communities.

Representing the Comptroller General of Customs, Dr. Adewale Adeniyi, the Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Muhammed Babandede, commended the synergy between Customs, security agencies, and community leaders.

“Today, I have seen collaboration in action. This partnership is proof that meaningful change comes from unity of purpose,” he said, urging the extension of the initiative to other parts of the country.

The Customs Area Controller, Comptroller Adewale Adenuga, explained that the programme was designed to address pressing health challenges while supporting economic growth. “We identified health as a major concern in this area, and that’s why we combined medical intervention with empowerment to strengthen community well being,” he noted. He also acknowledged individual donors, including Remi Adesanya, who contributed ₦2 million to support widows and young entrepreneurs.

The event featured a symbolic tree-planting ceremony, where dignitaries, including the wife of the Comptroller-General of Customs and COWA National President, Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, traditional rulers, and agency heads, planted 30 coconut and palm trees at the newly inaugurated Kikelomo Shakirat Adeniyi Arena. The arena, named in her honour, will serve as a hub for revenue generation, skills development, and women-led capacity-building programmes.

In her address, Mrs. Adeniyi highlighted the dual objectives of empowerment and environmental protection. We are not just restoring the ecosystem; we’re empowering women and youth to transform waste into wealth,” she said, revealing that the initiative will soon be showcased in Brazil to attract global partnerships and support.

Community leaders, including the Oba Akran of Badagry, described the programme as a landmark intervention that blends humanitarian support, entrepreneurship, and climate action. Representatives from the Nigerian Air Force also praised the model as a benchmark for inter-agency collaboration.

Through this initiative, the Seme Border Command and COWA have reaffirmed their commitment to promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing community health, and fostering a sustainable, inclusive model for development across Nigeria’s border regions.