Customs Service champions early detection as COWA President urges officers to prioritise their health; Trade Modernisation Project pledges ₦50m to support cancer awareness
By: Chioma Vivian James
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its campaign against breast cancer with a sensitisation programme and free screening exercise for officers and stakeholders, reinforcing the importance of early detection, regular health checks and collective action in the fight against the disease.
The programme, held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, formed part of activities marking the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month and was organised under the theme, “Inspect, Detect, Protect.”
The initiative brought together Customs officers, medical professionals, development partners and other stakeholders in a concerted effort to deepen awareness about breast cancer and encourage proactive approaches to prevention and treatment.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, at the event, the Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, urged officers to take their health seriously and reject the stigma often associated with cancer.
Adebakin emphasised that sustained public education and sensitisation remained critical to encouraging early detection and improving the 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,” she said.
She encouraged officers to make routine health checks an integral part of their personal wellbeing, stressing that vigilance and timely medical attention could make a significant difference in the fight against cancer.
The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, challenged officers, particularly women, to stop putting their health last while caring for their families.
She urged women to embrace regular self-examination and seek medical attention whenever they notice unusual changes or symptoms.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” Adeniyi said.
She also reminded male officers that breast cancer is not exclusively a woman’s disease, urging them to remain informed, support affected relatives and encourage women around them to undergo regular screening.
Also speaking, Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, disclosed that the initiative had sustained breast cancer awareness activities within the NCS for three years.
Abubakar stressed the need for continuous sensitisation and regular screening, noting that early detection remains one of the most important steps in improving outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.
A major highlight of the programme was a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, towards supporting the fight against breast cancer.
Umar-Ajijola urged participants to apply the same diligence they demonstrate in Customs operations to their personal health, emphasising the importance of seeking information and undergoing appropriate checks whenever necessary.
“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone,” she said.
The programme featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and interactive question-and-answer session, giving participants the opportunity to learn more about breast cancer, its risk factors, warning signs, prevention and early detection.
The awareness campaign culminated in free breast cancer screening for Customs officers and other participants, turning the sensitisation effort into a practical health intervention.
The initiative demonstrated the NCS’s growing emphasis on the wellbeing of its personnel, while reinforcing the message that cancer awareness must go beyond annual campaigns to become part of everyday health consciousness.
By combining education, advocacy, financial support and access to screening, the Customs Service and its partners are seeking to strengthen the culture of early detection and encourage officers and members of their families to take greater responsibility for their health.
The NCS said the programme underscored the importance of sustained health education, early detection and collective action, urging officers and stakeholders to “Inspect, Detect and Protect” themselves against the devastating impact of breast cancer.
