By ebosele@hotmail.com –
A trade expert, Mr. Okey Ibeke, has described the 2026 Commonwealth Gold Award for Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) conferred on the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) as a fitting recognition of the impact of its Customs Cares initiative on communities across the country.
In a statement issued in Lagos, Ibeke, Principal Consultant, International Trade Advisory Services Ltd., said the international honour reflects global recognition of the Customs Service’s transformation from an agency focused primarily on revenue generation, trade facilitation and anti-smuggling operations into one that also promotes community development, environmental sustainability and social inclusion.
He noted that the introduction of Customs Cares by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has institutionalised corporate social responsibility as an integral part of Customs administration while aligning the Service’s interventions with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
According to him, the initiative has enabled the Service to take government programmes directly to communities, particularly those around ports, border areas and other locations where Customs Commands operate.
Ibeke said the programme is built on six strategic pillars—education, healthcare, food security, environmental sustainability, social investment and the creative economy—which have contributed significantly to improving the welfare of Nigerians.
He explained that since its launch, the initiative has delivered numerous projects nationwide, including the renovation of public schools, rehabilitation of classrooms, construction and refurbishment of assembly halls, donation of desks and learning materials, installation of solar-powered streetlights, provision of water facilities, scholarships and other educational support.
He added that the healthcare component has also recorded remarkable achievements through free medical outreaches, medical consultations, eye examinations, blood pressure and diabetes screening, distribution of medicines and health awareness campaigns, particularly in underserved rural and border communities.
According to Ibeke, the true value of the initiative lies in its direct impact on people’s lives, as thousands of students now learn in improved environments while many residents have benefited from accessible healthcare services.
He identified environmental sustainability as one of the flagship pillars that contributed to the Service’s emergence as the Commonwealth Gold Award winner.
The trade expert noted that the Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated strong commitment to environmental protection through tree-planting campaigns, sanitation exercises, installation of solar-powered streetlights in schools and public facilities, waste management programmes and other climate-friendly initiatives.
He said these interventions support Nigeria’s environmental conservation goals while aligning with global sustainability objectives.
Beyond environmental projects, Ibeke commended the Service for investing in youth development through skills acquisition programmes, entrepreneurship support, community empowerment initiatives and grassroots sporting activities organised by various Customs Commands.
He said the programmes have equipped young Nigerians with productive skills while strengthening trust and cooperation between Customs officers and host communities.
Ibeke particularly praised the Service for extending many of its interventions to border communities that have historically experienced limited government presence despite their strategic importance to national security and economic development.
According to him, projects such as boreholes, educational support, medical outreach and youth empowerment have helped bridge the gap between government institutions and residents in those communities.
He observed that Customs Cares has also enhanced the public image of the Service by demonstrating that Customs can effectively combine its statutory responsibilities with meaningful investments in community development.
Ibeke described the Commonwealth Gold Award as an endorsement of the leadership of Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi and his vision of building a modern Customs administration that delivers value beyond its traditional mandate.
He said the award recognises not only the Service’s achievements in environmental sustainability and corporate social responsibility but also its people-centred approach to governance.
According to him, the institutionalisation of Customs Cares has transformed corporate social responsibility from occasional charitable interventions into a structured national programme implemented by Customs Headquarters and Area Commands across the country.
Ibeke expressed confidence that continued implementation of community-based projects under the initiative would further strengthen public trust, deepen stakeholder engagement and reinforce the Nigeria Customs Service’s reputation as one of Africa’s most progressive Customs administrations.
He added that the Commonwealth Gold Award serves as a validation of the Service’s commitment to responsible governance, sustainable development and community partnership, demonstrating that public institutions can make meaningful contributions to national development by placing citizens at the centre of their programmes and policies.
