In a significant display of national collaboration, key government ministers, alongside representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), gathered on Thursday, 20 March 2025, to witness the official launch of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) ‘Customs Cares’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme.
Held at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, the initiative aims to drive transformative change and sustainable development in communities across Nigeria.
The launch event marked the beginning of the NCS’s long-term commitment to community empowerment, with the first phase of the programme benefiting over 1,300 students.
The programme is poised to tackle Nigeria’s pressing social, educational, and infrastructural challenges, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
In his opening address, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, described the ‘Customs Cares’ initiative as a strategic response to the nation’s critical needs.
“This initiative represents our comprehensive approach to CSR, designed to foster inclusive growth and create sustainable impact across Nigerian communities where we operate,” he explained.
The initiative will be rolled out in phases, beginning with a focus on education.
“We have prioritised education because human capital development is fundamental to national prosperity,” CGC Adeniyi emphasised, revealing that the Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, was chosen for its historical ties to the NCS and the pressing infrastructural needs of the institution.
Looking ahead, the Comptroller-General shared plans to expand the programme across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with the adoption of one school in each Local Area Council.
This approach will allow for tailored interventions to meet the unique needs of each institution, ensuring long-term, sustainable development rather than one-off donations.
“These school adoptions, including GSS Wuse Zone 3, are long-term commitments. We will continue to impact these institutions over the years, ensuring sustainable development,” Adeniyi assured attendees.
Finance Minister and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, commended the NCS for going beyond its core mandate of revenue generation to contribute to national development.
“The Customs Cares initiative is a game-changer. It exemplifies how government institutions can integrate social impact into their core mandate,” Edun said, expressing the Ministry’s full support for the programme.
Comptroller Patience Ibrahim, head of the NCS’s Corporate Social Responsibility Unit, outlined the broader vision for the programme, which includes improving healthcare, social infrastructure, and environmental sustainability. Ibrahim revealed plans to deploy mobile clinics, conduct medical outreaches, and run anti-malaria campaigns in underserved areas.
The NCS will also implement water borehole projects, upgrade electricity infrastructure, and introduce skills acquisition programmes to empower individuals and promote economic self-reliance.
“In our quest to ensure that no Nigerian goes hungry, we will support agricultural extension services, facilitate food donations, and improve market access for farmers, thereby strengthening the agricultural value chain,” Ibrahim added.
The choice of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, for the programme’s first phase is symbolic of the NCS’s dedication to education and youth empowerment.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, praised the NCS for aligning the initiative with President Tinubu’s vision for a transformed educational system.
“This administration’s top priorities are education, healthcare, social investment, and food security,” he said, urging the NCS to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Nigerian Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) to enhance the programme’s effectiveness.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, also lauded the ‘Customs Cares’ initiative, describing it as a model for how government agencies can contribute to national development beyond their core mandates.
“Investing in youth development through education aligns with the federal government’s commitment to building a skilled and productive generation,” Olawande said.
The Principal of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Josephine Ugwu, expressed her gratitude to the NCS for choosing the school as the pilot site for the programme.
“This is a historic moment for our school. The Nigeria Customs Service has invested in our students and strengthened the foundation for their future,” Ugwu said, adding that improvements in security infrastructure and learning materials would enhance the school’s academic environment.
The event also attracted notable figures, including representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO), Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs, Assistant Comptrollers-General of Customs, heads of various Customs formations, local community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
With the ‘Customs Cares’ initiative, the NCS is setting a new standard for corporate social responsibility, ensuring that its impact on Nigeria’s development goes far beyond the collection of revenue.
