‘Customs CSR Initiative Earned Nigeria Commonwealth Gold Award’

A trade expert, Okey Ibeke, has said the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) earned the 2026 Commonwealth Gold Award for Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) because of the far-reaching impact of its Customs Cares initiative on communities across the country.

In a statement issued in Lagos, Ibeke, who is the Principal Consultant of International Trade Advisory Services Ltd., described the award as a fitting recognition of the Service’s transformation from a revenue-generating and border enforcement agency into one that is also driving community development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.

He said the initiative, introduced by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has institutionalised corporate social responsibility within the Service and aligned its interventions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

According to him, Customs Cares has taken government programmes directly to communities, particularly those around ports, border areas and locations where Customs commands operate.

“The introduction of Customs Cares marked a significant milestone in public sector governance by institutionalising corporate social responsibility as a core component of Customs administration,” Ibeke said.

He explained that the initiative focuses on six key pillars, education, healthcare, food security, environmental sustainability, social investment and the creative economy, which have collectively improved the quality of life of many Nigerians.

Ibeke noted that through the programme, Customs Headquarters and Area Commands across the federation have executed numerous community projects, including the renovation of public schools, rehabilitation of classrooms, construction and refurbishment of assembly halls, donation of desks, textbooks and other learning materials, installation of solar-powered streetlights, provision of water facilities and scholarship support for students.

He added that the healthcare component has also recorded notable achievements through free medical outreaches offering consultations, eye examinations, blood pressure and diabetes screening, distribution of medicines and health awareness campaigns, especially in underserved rural and border communities.

“The significance of these interventions lies not only in the number of projects executed but in the lives that have been touched. Thousands of pupils now study in better learning environments, while many residents have benefited from free healthcare and other social services provided by the Nigeria Customs Service,” he said.

Ibeke further attributed the Commonwealth Gold Award to the Service’s commitment to environmental sustainability, describing it as one of the flagship pillars of the Customs Cares initiative.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated leadership in environmental protection through tree-planting campaigns, environmental sanitation exercises, installation of solar-powered streetlights in schools and public facilities, waste management programmes and other climate-friendly projects.

He said the initiatives support Nigeria’s environmental conservation goals while aligning with global sustainability objectives.

Beyond environmental interventions, Ibeke said the Service has continued to empower young people through skills acquisition programmes, entrepreneurship support, grassroots sporting activities and other community empowerment projects.

He noted that many of the interventions have been deliberately extended to border communities, where the provision of boreholes, educational support, medical outreach and youth empowerment programmes has strengthened relationships between Customs and local residents.

“Customs Cares has brought governance closer to the grassroots. Communities that previously knew the Nigeria Customs Service only through enforcement activities are now experiencing its human face through projects that directly improve their daily lives,” he stated.

Ibeke said the initiative has enhanced the public image of the Service by demonstrating that Customs can effectively combine revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security with meaningful investments in community development.

He described the Commonwealth Gold Award as an endorsement of the leadership of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his vision of building a modern Customs administration that delivers value beyond its statutory responsibilities.

“The award is not simply recognition for environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility; it is recognition of a leadership philosophy that places people at the centre of governance. Customs Cares has become a practical expression of President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by improving education, healthcare, environmental sustainability, youth development and the welfare of vulnerable communities across Nigeria,” he said.

Ibeke added that institutionalising the Customs Cares initiative has transformed corporate social responsibility from an occasional charitable activity into a structured national programme implemented across Customs formations nationwide.

He expressed confidence that as more community-based projects are delivered, the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to deepen public trust, strengthen stakeholder engagement and reinforce its reputation as one of Africa’s leading Customs administrations.

“The Commonwealth Gold Award is more than an international honour. It is a validation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to responsible governance, sustainable development and community partnership. It also demonstrates that public institutions can contribute meaningfully to national development when they place citizens at the heart of their programmes and policies,” he added.