Customs pledge support for National Merit Award

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the Nigerian National Merit Award (NNMA), an institution recognized as the country's highest honor for intellectual and academic excellence. Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi pledged the agency's ongoing support during a visit from NNMA officials.

Adeniyi described the NNMA as a vital platform for recognizing excellence and inspiring future generations of Nigerians. He stressed that institutions that identify and reward outstanding achievements are crucial for promoting innovation, hard work, and national development. "What we are doing is so important because we want the younger generations of Nigerians to know that there is no shortcut to greatness. They have to put in hard work and commitment," he stated.

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What we are doing is so important because we want the younger generations of Nigerians to know that there is no shortcut to greatness. They have to put in hard work and commitment. When a government agency recognises discoveries, innovations and excellence, it deserves the support of all Nigerians.

The NNMA, established in 1979, honors Nigerians who have made exceptional contributions through scholarship, research, innovation, and professional accomplishments. The Acting Secretary of the NNMA, Mercy Musa, highlighted the award's exclusivity, noting that only 79 Nigerians have received the honor since its inception, underscoring its rigorous selection process.

The NCS has a history of supporting the NNMA and plans to explore further avenues to strengthen this partnership. Adeniyi's pledge comes as the NCS continues to expand its engagement with various institutions, aiming to foster national development through recognition and support.

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The Service had supported the Award Office in the past and would explore available lawful avenues to provide further opportunities to support the agency’s operations as partners.