WHAT IS COWAN
Country Women Association of Nigeria, COWAN was officially registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in 1992 as a non-governmental organization in Nigeria. Its main goal is the systemic and measurable empowerment of women, in particular rural and urban poor women, using African Traditional norms and practices, their inborn skills and talents to work out of poverty.
COWAN was started in Akure Ondo State, in 1982 with only six cooperative societies, having a total membership of just 225 women. However, through consistency, commitment and cooperation. COWAN doctrine has spread nationwide.
Today, their responsive practices have taken root in 36 states including the Federal Capital Territory with over 10,000 farmer groups and cooperative societies with a total membership of over 2,700,000.
VISION
COWAN is about human dignity. One fulfilled by using their abundant human and material resources for the satisfaction of our legitimate needs, and enhanced by talent, enterprise, conscience and history. And one in which every man, woman and child can be free from the shackles of ignorance, disease and want.
MISSION
i) Working with rural and urban poor women to remove poverty from their lives through wealth creating practices and engagements.
ii) Using African Responsive Banking to mobilize, generate and deliver cooperative, community personal resources for productive and life enhancing ventures thus revealing and mainstreaming the efficiency and effectiveness of African Traditional savings and credit systems as the key to hunger and poverty eradication.
iii) Promoting gender-compliant and women friendly democratic practice at all levels of governance.
iv) Advocating for the use of natural herbs, indigenous food, traditional norms and practices to prevent deadly disease such as HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis.