… renovates, adopts community school in Lagos
The Nigeria Customs Service has announced a boost to its ‘Customs Care’ Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative with a target to empower 50,000 students on education by the end of 2025.
This is just the Service has taken a second step to make good this promise with the renovation of a community school in the suburbs of Ajegunle in Lagos State.
The Controller General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi, announced the target while commissioning the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery & Primary School in Ajeromi Ifelodun LCDA of Lagos, stating that the service’s CSR is targeted at life-changing interventions such as education, health care, Sports, Creative Industry and water.
However, Adeniyi stated that the organisation is not in competition with any other but has identified the necessity to give back to host communities.
He stressed that the NCS is not just about revenue generation but has incorporated a high level of CSR tagged ‘Customs Care’ as a way of impacting significantly in communities they operate.
The school established in 1960 but now dilapidated saw a remarkable transformation bankrolled by the Tincan Island Port Command.
Facilities provided by Customs Care alongside the renovation of the school includes over 40 classrooms, toilets for teachers and pupils, clinics, food vendor spot, playing ground for toddlers and pupils.
Each student also received a pair of shoes and a school bag from the school items enough for 2000 students brought by the NCS at the ceremony.
The CGC urged the students to make good use of the facilities made available to them, charging them to show dedication to education as a pathway to growth.
The Customs team also rendered free medical care to the youths and elderly people that attended the commissioning ceremony.
The renovated school was also equipped with a computer room having 10 computers with the CGC promising to send additional five computers personally, for easy learning activities in the library and classrooms.
The CGC promised to enhance community well-being and foster sustainable development, ultimately making a positive impact in the lives of the citizens.
He said: “Our CSR target in 2025 is to directly reach out to 50,000 students across the country with writing tools, bags, school uniforms, pencils, pens, erasers, sharpeners, shoes and raincoats among others”.
In his welcome speech, the Zonal Coordinator Zone A, Assistant Comptroller General of Customs, Charles Orbih, said that the CSR initiative is the beginning of a transformative journey that would leave lasting footprints in the host community.
He commended Adeniyi for his exemplary leadership which has consistently demonstrated that a modern customs service should excel not only in revenue generation, trade facilitation and border security but also in touching lives.
On his part as the Customs Controller in charge of CSR, Patience Ibrahim, stressed that the Tincan Island Port Command has demonstrated exactly what the CSR vision of Nigeria Customs Service looks like in action, by identifying the educational needs within its community and responding with this remarkable intervention at Christ Assembly Nursery & Primary School.
The Customs Area Controller (CAC), Tin Can Island Port, Comptroller Frank Onyeka, expressed gratitude to the CGC for prioritising community impact and praised the school’s management and stakeholders for their support throughout the renovation process.
Responding, the Headmistress of the school, Mrs. Esther Ogunfuyi, said the transformation went beyond physical infrastructure, describing it as “a reflection of belief in our pupils’ potential and a commitment to walk this educational journey with us”.
“Your generosity has created a safer, more inspiring, and dignified environment for both teaching and learning,” she said.
The school and community leaders in appreciation presented a souvenir to the CGC.
In his goodwill message, the Executive Chairman of Ajeromi Ifelodun LCDA, Fatai Ayoola expressed his heartfelt appreciation to the Nigeria Customs Service for their kind gesture to the development of the community while advising teachers to help in ensuring the maintenance of the facility.
The highlight of the event was the announcement by the CGC of visiting the school in December to celebrate Christmas with them, saying that the relationship remains sustainable.
Empowering schools through its CSR initiative was ventured into by the NCS with a community school in Abuja recently.