Oluremi Tinubu, the wife of Nigeria’s President, and Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, have announced the launch of a N500 million support fund by the Customs Officers Wives’ Association (COWA). The aim is to alleviate the impact of the ongoing hardship on vulnerable individuals in Nigeria.

The announcement was made during the recent relaunch of COWA in Abuja.

Represented by Oghogho Musa, the President of the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association, Oluremi Tinubu emphasized the federal government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that alleviate hardship in Nigeria.

“What sets our nation apart is not just our shared political beliefs, but our shared ideas and values, such as compassion, respect, integrity, and empathy. Each of us has a role to play in upholding and celebrating these values as building blocks of a strong, unified community,” she stated.

Bashir Adeniyi, the Comptroller General of Nigeria Customs, also highlighted the crucial role of women in helping the country overcome hardship. He acknowledged that women play a significant part in filling the gaps and announced that the service had allocated land worth N35 million in Abuja for COWA.

“The relaunch of COWA demonstrates our unwavering commitment to empowering and promoting the well-being of women, both as our wives at home and as colleagues among our officers. COWA’s initiatives encompass personal and professional development for officers’ wives, fostering harmonious home environments, and active engagement in community development, all of which align with the objectives of the Nigerian Customs Service,” he explained.

Kikelomo Adeniyi, the President of COWA, highlighted that the N500 million fund would provide assistance to approximately 100,000 underprivileged Nigerians nationwide in 2024.

It is worth noting that the National Bureau of Statistics reported an increase in the inflation rate to 29.90 percent based on the December consumer price index.