COWA lays foundation of multi-billion Int’l Sec Sch at Seme
… As Association’s Zone ‘A’ graduates 200 members in skills acquistions
“It has always been my desire that our children and children of our community and even the nation at large have a better education.”
These were the words of the National President, Customs Officers Wives Association (COWA), Hajiya Sa’adiya Dikko Abdullahi, last Friday at the foundation-laying ceremony of the COWA International Secondary School (CISS) at the Seme border station, Lagos, last Thursday.
Abdullahi, while expressing deep appreciation for the executives of the association and other stakeholders for the realisation of the project, pledged that the school, when completed, will maintain high academic standards in providing qualitative education for the children of Customs personnel and members of the public.
“COWA International Secondary School will be a co-educational boarding institution, providing all-round quality education for children of Customs officers and men, as well as that of the general public in and across the border, who may wish to take advantage of our high profile modern faclities,” she said.
According to her, the project, with an estimated cost of over N2 billion, will consist of nine blocks, 60 classrooms, staff quarters, shopping mall, administrative block, conference hall and auditorium, library, canteen, mosque and church.
In his address, Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ , Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Assistant Comptroller-General Victor Gbemudu, praised the determination of COWA members, even as he urged other sister-agencies to follow same course.
He assured that, with the support of stakeholders and well wishers in ensuring the infrastructural development of CISS, the school will be completed before the end of next year.
Meanwhile, at least 200 Customs officers’ wives in Zone ‘A’ have graduated from various skill acquisition programme organised by COWA.
The graduates were trained in soap, bead making, fashion designing, computer appreciation, interior decoration and events management.
Speaking at the ceremony, Comptroller-General of Customs Dikko Inde Abdulahi, who visited the Customs Training College, Ikeja, Lagos, venue of the event, unannounced, pledged the support of the Customs Management to the development of the association.
The Customs chief stated that the training the graduands acquired will equip them with enough skills to make them self-reliant, even as he urged them to use these skills in employing others.
“Those of you, who are able to help others, please don’t hesitate, because that is the only way a nation can grow. Nigeria is a country with almost 170 million populations, but, unfortunately, the three tiers of government are managing very scarce resources. That is why this gesture should be well-managed,” he stated.
Also speaking, the Customs chief’s wife urged the women to utilise the opportunity and make good use of the training to reduce the problem of poverty in the state.
The COWA boss advised the women, who she said are pillars of the home front, to, while putting into practice what they have learnt, add value to their families, as this will help their husbands in the effective discharge of their duties.
“We believe that through capacity building of our members, the home fronts of officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service will be economically-enhanced. This will no doubt boost family budget and provide necessary frame of mind for our husbands to effectively discharge their duties to Nigerians,” she said.
Speaking earlier, the COWA Zonal Coordinator, Mrs. Josephine Ibu, said that, since the inauguration of COWA in 2009, this is the first time officers’ wives from Zone ‘A’ are graduating from a training put together by the association.
Highlights of the occasion included presentation of certificates to the graduands.
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