Nigeria’s seaports, airports, and land borders are protected by uniformed men, specifically officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS). In the midst of these officers are their female counterparts, playing a vital role in safeguarding the country’s economy, security, and natural resources.
As the world marks International Women’s Day, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) celebrates the strength, dedication, and expertise of its female officers, who are breaking barriers, defying stereotypes, and proving that they are a force to be reckoned with.
From border security to intelligence gathering and cargo inspection to leadership roles, these women are making their mark across all facets of the NCS.
While balancing career and family life remains a challenge, the leadership of the Service, under the Comptroller General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has fostered an inclusive and supportive environment where female officers can thrive.
According to Deputy Comptroller General (DCG) in charge of the Tariff and Trade Department, Caroline Niagwan, the service, among other initiatives, has demonstrated commitment to gender inclusivity by supporting and sponsoring Deputy Superintendent of Customs, Olanike Balogun in her journey from cabin crew member to becoming the first female licensed pilot in the service.
“This shows the service commitment to inclusivity, capacity building and innovation. You can now find women at different levels of the workforce; women have risen to leadership positions, and this shows career progression is possible for female officers”, the DCG stated.
As the NCS embraces technology to modernise its operations, female officers are key in leveraging digital tools to enhance efficiency.
The DCG ICT/Modernisation, Kikelomo Adeolu, commended the significant contributions of women in driving innovation within the service.
“For instance, the DCG Excise, Uche Nwafor has brought in out of the box solution that brought revenue that has never been recorded in excise. In the same way in ICT, we have mentored so many officers that we even presently have a World Customs Organization (WCO) chair as one of the ICT officers, a WCO expert in risk management, single window and so on.”
She encouraged women to forge ahead to improve the country and the world. “We have what it takes, we have all it takes. We understand the terrain, and God is with us; let us continue to forge ahead to make Nigeria greater and the world better.”
Despite the challenges of working in a male-dominated sector, female officers like Comptroller Joy Edeldouk, in charge of the Kirikiri Lighter Terminal Command and Comptroller Sarah Wadinda, in charge of the Lagos Industrial Command, have demonstrated competence, discipline, and resilience in their leadership roles.
With this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” to collectively forge a more inclusive world for women, the Nigeria Customs Service celebrates the invaluable contributions of its female officers, as their achievements not only strengthen the service but also inspire the next generation of women to join their ranks and shape the future of customs operations in Courtesy NCS
