Nigeria Customs Partners with WCO to Advance Gender Diversity, Inclusivity

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), in partnership with the World Customs Organization (WCO), launched a pivotal workshop on “Gender Diversity” at the Old Federal Secretariat, Garki, Abuja, marking a significant step towards fostering inclusivity and equality within its ranks. 

This workshop, which began on Monday, underscores the Service’s dedication to cultivating an environment where every officer, regardless of gender, has the opportunity to excel and contribute to the Customs’ objectives.

The Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs for Tariff and Trade, Caroline Niagwan, represented by Chief Superintendent of Customs Zara Musa, officially inaugurated the workshop. 

Addressing the attendees, CSC Musa emphasised the initiative’s essential role in supporting all Customs officers with equal opportunities for professional advancement and success.

“This workshop will pave the way for officers to contribute fully to the Service’s success, regardless of gender,” stated CSC Musa. “CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is firmly committed to nurturing a gender-inclusive environment within the NCS.”

The workshop builds upon the Service’s ongoing gender-focused initiatives, following an earlier capacity-building session held in April 2024 at Wells Carlston Apartments in Abuja. 

“These initiatives form part of a broader effort under CGC Adeniyi’s leadership aimed at advancing gender equality within the Service,” CSC Musa added. “Promoting a culture where diverse perspectives are valued is critical to enhancing Customs operations.”

Jennifer Goistene Burs, a resource expert from the WCO based in Botswana, addressed participants on the strategic benefits of gender inclusivity in service delivery. 

She acknowledged the commitment of the NCS to finalising its draft action plan on Gender Equality and Diversity (GED), a plan that emerged from a sub-regional workshop organised earlier this year.

“We are dedicated to supporting the Nigeria Customs Service in bringing its GED action plan to fruition,” Burs noted. “Once implemented, this plan will be instrumental in embedding diversity throughout the Service’s operational framework.”

The workshop also featured insights from Sendra Chihaka of Zimbabwe and Johanna Tornstrom, who contributed their expertise on strategies for building a workplace culture that respects and values the unique contributions of all officers. 

This event reflects the NCS’s dedication to an inclusive work culture that not only upholds gender equity but also enhances the Service’s capacity to perform effectively on a global scale.