Babatunji Wusu –
- NCS to support 50,000 pupils nationwide by 2025 through the ‘Customs Cares’ CSR initiative.
- 12,000 students already reached, including 5,000 in Lagos.
- Christ Assembly School renovated and equipped with modern facilities.
- Project executed by Tin Can Island Port Command, with support from Abuja Headquarters.
- NCS pledges continued interventions in healthcare, ICT, sports, creative industry, and social welfare.
- Community leaders and government stakeholders commend Customs’ impactful contribution.
As part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has announced a nationwide goal to provide educational support to 50,000 primary and secondary school pupils by 2025. This initiative, under the ‘Customs Cares’ programme, aims to enhance learning environments and uplift communities across the country.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, made the announcement during the commissioning of the newly renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School in Araromi, Lagos. According to Adeniyi, the Customs Service has already reached over 12,000 students, with 5,000 beneficiaries in Lagos State alone—2,000 of whom received educational materials during the event.
The Christ Assembly School, originally founded in 1960, now boasts state-of-the-art facilities, thanks to its adoption and renovation by the Tin Can Island Port Command in collaboration with the NCS headquarters in Abuja. The project is seen as a direct contribution to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Looking beyond education, the NCS also pledged further involvement in other sectors including healthcare, ICT, sports, and creative development. Adeniyi emphasized the agency’s commitment to community partnership, stating that Customs recognizes the support it receives from local communities and is determined to give back.
Commendations poured in from various stakeholders. Local leaders, including HRM Oba Moroof Oyekunle Oluwa and Federal Representative Kalejaiye Adeboye Paul, praised the Customs Service for its developmental initiative and urged other government agencies to follow suit.
Lagos State Commissioner of Education, Tolani Ali-Balogun, described the project as a valuable complement to the state’s own educational efforts. He assured the public that the state’s Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) will oversee the maintenance of the facility.
School Headmistress Esther Ogunfuyi expressed deep gratitude, calling the transformation more than just structural—it is a “reflection of belief in the potential of our pupils” and a commitment to shaping their future.
