Nigeria Customs to Transform Education for National Development, Launches ‘Customs Cares’ CSR Programme
…Over 1,300 Students Benefit
In a significant move to drive national development and social impact, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has launched its ambitious ‘Customs Cares’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) programme, designed to address critical gaps in education, healthcare, and infrastructure across Nigerian communities.
The groundbreaking event took place on Thursday, 20 March 2025, at Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Abuja, where over 1,300 students benefited from the initiative’s first phase.
The launch witnessed the presence of key government officials, including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa; and Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, alongside representatives from the World Health Organization (WHO).
The initiative signals the NCS’s commitment to sustainable development and national progress beyond its traditional revenue generation mandate.
In his opening remarks, the Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, described Customs Cares as a strategic response to Nigeria’s social and infrastructural challenges.
He highlighted that the programme reflects the Service’s dedication to fostering inclusive growth and sustainable impact across the country.
“The Customs Cares initiative represents our comprehensive approach to CSR, designed to foster inclusive growth and create sustainable impact across Nigerian communities where we operate,” Adeniyi stated.
Adeniyi noted that the initiative aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
“This initiative is strategically aligned with President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises holistic national development. Inspired by this framework, we focus on six key pillars, beginning with education,” he added.
The CGC emphasised that Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, was carefully selected due to its historical ties and pressing infrastructural needs.
He stressed that education is central to national prosperity and underscored the NCS’s long-term commitment to sustainable development.
“We have prioritised education because human capital development is fundamental to national prosperity. This initiative is not just about donations but long-term commitments to sustainable development,” he emphasised.
He further announced that the initiative would be extended across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with one school in each Local Area Council to be adopted and supported based on specific needs.
“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 rather than one-time interventions,” Adeniyi assured.
Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, praised the NCS for its forward-thinking approach to national development beyond its core mandate of revenue generation.
“The Customs Cares initiative is a game-changer. It exemplifies how government institutions can integrate social impact into their core mandate. I commend the Comptroller-General of Customs for this visionary leadership, and I assure you that the Ministry of Finance fully supports this initiative,” Edun stated.
Minister of Education, Olatunji Alausa, commended the NCS for aligning the initiative with President Tinubu’s vision for a transformed educational system.
“President Tinubu believes in human capital development. When we talk about this, it centres on the youth and our future. This administration’s top priorities are education, healthcare, social investment, and food security,” Alausa noted.
He encouraged the NCS to collaborate with the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) and the Nigerian Senior Secondary Education Commission (NSSEC) to enhance the programme’s impact.
“Aligning efforts with these agencies will lead to greater impact and ensure that targeted interventions are based on data-driven priorities,” he advised.
Minister of Youth Development, Ayodele Olawande, highlighted the importance of youth empowerment and commended the initiative’s focus on education.
“Investing in youth development through education aligns with the federal government’s commitment to building a skilled and productive generation,” he said.
Comptroller Patience Ibrahim, who leads the NCS’s Corporate Social Responsibility Unit, outlined the Service’s broader plans to improve healthcare, social infrastructure, and environmental sustainability.
She announced that the NCS would deploy mobile clinics, conduct medical outreaches, and launch anti-malaria campaigns in underserved areas.
“We will deploy mobile clinics, conduct medical outreaches, and implement anti-malaria campaigns to improve community health, particularly in underserved areas of our operations,” she said.
She further disclosed that the Service would initiate water borehole projects, upgrade electricity infrastructure, and facilitate 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 Principal of Government Secondary School, Wuse Zone 3, Josephine Ugwu, expressed gratitude to the NCS for selecting the school as the pilot location for the initiative.
“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.
She added that the provision of security infrastructure and learning materials would significantly improve the school’s academic environment.
The launch of Customs Cares attracted several distinguished personalities, including Deputy Comptrollers-General of Customs, Assistant Comptrollers-General of Customs, heads of various Customs formations, local community leaders, and other key stakeholders.
The initiative marks the beginning of a long-term commitment by the NCS to foster social development and empower Nigerian communities, with education at the core of its transformative agenda.
