The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has won the Commonwealth Environment and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Gold Award for its flagship Customs Cares initiative, earning international recognition for its community development and sustainability efforts. The award, presented in Glasgow, Scotland, on Friday, honours organisations delivering measurable, sustainable interventions that advance the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
According to a statement by Customs spokesperson Abdullahi Maiwada, Customs Cares was recognised for its impact in education, healthcare, food security and environmental sustainability across Nigeria. Maiwada said the initiative has reached more than 10 million Nigerians in 12 states and the Federal Capital Territory through projects including school renovations, healthcare facilities, potable water schemes, food support programmes and the Green Borders Initiative.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Enforcement, Investigation and Inspection, Timi Bomodi described the recognition as a major milestone in the Service’s ongoing reforms.
“This award is both humbling and inspiring. It affirms our belief that public institutions create their greatest value not only by fulfilling their statutory mandates, but by improving lives and strengthening the communities they serve,” Bomodi said. Speaking at the ceremony, the Governor of Tharaka Nithi County, Kenya, Muthomi Njuki, called for stronger international collaboration to tackle climate change, stressing that accountability, innovation, partnerships and shared responsibility are vital to building a greener, safer and more prosperous world.