Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adeniyi, has commended the academic excellence of public secondary schools in Lagos, promising sustained support and deeper engagement with educational institutions as part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) community intervention programme.

He stated this yesterday while commissioning the renovated Christ Assembly Nursery and Primary School in Ajeromi / Ifelodun Local Government Area (LGA), by the NCS Tin Can Island Port Command as well as the distribution of educational materials to 10,000 students.

The Customs boss said the CSR target in 2025 is to directly reach out to 50,000 students across the country with writing tools, bags, school uniforms, writing tools, erasers, sharpeners, raincoats, among other things.

Adeniyi praised the school’s outstanding academic track record and positive community impact as well as its legacy of excellence, hailing the foundation laid by its leadership over a decade ago.

Adeniyi encouraged students to maximise the newly donated educational facilities and also excel in their academic performance, which would be recognised by the NCS.

In the objective of the Customs intervention, Adeniyi explained that the choice of the school was based on thorough evaluation by a panel of officers from the Tin Can Island Command and experts who assessed potential beneficiaries in Ajegunle.

“We select schools based on the impact our intervention will bring , not just for students but for the learning environment as a whole. Our interventions are anchored on pillars like education, health, community life, and environmental sustainability,” he stated.

The Customs boss affirmed that the programme would extend to all regions across the country, noting that the service has already identified schools in Cross River and Rivers states for adoption.

Adeniyi emphasised that the NCS remains committed to its core mandates, which include revenue generation, trade facilitation, and national security, but equally to the social wellbeing of communities around its operational corridors.

On his part, the Customs Area Controller of the Tin Can Island command, Frank Onyeka, said the corporate social responsibility (CSR) project of the command was aimed at improving infrastructure and learning environment for students and teachers.

Onyeka paid special tribute to the teachers who had committed themselves to mentoring and supporting students in challenging circumstances.

He also lauded the students for their determination and perseverance in the face of adversity, saying, “They need to be commended for their perseverance, their zeal for learning, and their determination to overcome these kinds of conditions.

Onyeka expressed appreciation to stakeholders and the NCS leadership for their unwavering support and collaboration, describing the experience as both humbling and inspiring.