Nigeria Customs Service wins Commonwealth Gold Award for CSR initiative

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned global acclaim, winning the Commonwealth Environment and CSR Gold Award in Glasgow, Scotland. The prestigious award recognizes its flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, 'Customs Cares,' for its significant and sustainable community-driven interventions that align with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

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This award is both humbling and inspiring. It affirms our belief that public institutions create their greatest value not only by fulfilling their statutory mandates, but by improving lives and strengthening the communities they serve.

'Customs Cares' was particularly lauded for its measurable impact across critical sectors including education, healthcare, food security, and environmental sustainability throughout Nigeria. The initiative has demonstrably improved lives and strengthened communities, going beyond the NCS's core mandate of revenue generation, trade facilitation, and border security.

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Beyond every classroom renovated, every borehole commissioned and every tree planted is something even more enduring; trust.

Receiving the award, Deputy Comptroller-General Timi Bomodi highlighted it as a pivotal moment in the NCS's transformation. He stated, "This award is both humbling and inspiring. It affirms our belief that public institutions create their greatest value not only by fulfilling their statutory mandates, but by improving lives and strengthening the communities they serve." Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi credited the success to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 'Renewed Hope Agenda,' noting that 'Customs Cares' has reached over 10 million Nigerians in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

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No country could solve the crisis alone, but that through accountability, partnership, innovation and shared responsibility, the world could become greener, safer and more prosperous.

The initiative's achievements include school renovations, healthcare projects, provision of clean water, food support, and the 'Green Borders Initiative.' "Beyond every classroom renovated, every borehole commissioned and every tree planted is something even more enduring; trust," Adeniyi added. The organizers specifically cited the NCS's innovative Hub-and-Spoke Community Activation Model as a key factor in their win, reinforcing the NCS's reputation as a modern administration committed to sustainable development.

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For a long time, we worked believing that the impact in our communities was reward enough. Today, this international recognition tells us that those efforts have not gone unnoticed.