The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has stepped up its campaign against breast cancer, with a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, to support efforts aimed at combating the disease.
The pledge was made on October 6, 2026, during a Breast Cancer Awareness Month sensitisation programme organised by the NCS at its Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, where officers and stakeholders were urged to prioritise early detection, regular screening and preventive healthcare.
The programme, themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect”, brought together Customs officers, medical professionals and partners to deepen awareness of breast cancer and encourage proactive steps towards its prevention and management.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said cancer should not be viewed as a stigma or the end of life.
She urged officers to pay closer attention to their health, stressing that sustained education and sensitisation remained essential to early detection and effective management of the disease.
“Cancer isn’t a stigma. It is a time to give attention to those affected and give them hope again. Together, we can build a healthier society, a healthier Service, and healthier communities”, Adebakin said.
COWA President Urges Officers To Check Themselves
The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who was Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to make their health a priority through regular self-examination and prompt medical attention.
Adeniyi noted that women often devoted themselves to caring for their families while neglecting their own health, stressing that early detection could make a significant difference in the fight against breast cancer.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself”, she said.
She also reminded male officers that breast cancer could affect men, urging them to support women in their families and communities by encouraging regular checks and timely medical intervention.
BOYA Project Sustains Awareness Campaign
The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had been championing breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years.
She stressed the need for sustained sensitisation and regular screening, noting that early detection remained critical to addressing the disease and improving outcomes for those affected.
₦50m Pledge To Support Fight Against Cancer.
Making the ₦50 million pledge, Umar-Ajijola urged participants to apply the same diligence they bring to Customs operations to their personal health.
“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone”, she said.
The programme also featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and a question-and-answer segment, before culminating in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants.
The screening provided a practical dimension to the awareness campaign, giving participants an opportunity to move beyond information and take immediate steps towards early detection and preventive healthcare.