Adeniyi deepens Customs-academia collaboration with Yakubu Gowon University

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) is deepening its investment in human capital and institutional development, with Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, pledging renewed support for research, ICT infrastructure and student-focused projects at Yakubu Gowon University.

Adeniyi made the commitment on Tuesday at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hakeem Fawehinmi, alongside other principal officers during a courtesy visit focused on expanding institutional collaboration.

The Customs boss said the Service was prepared to revive and strengthen a long-standing partnership with the university through targeted interventions capable of delivering measurable impact in education, border management studies and national development.

Speaking during the engagement, Adeniyi recalled that discussions to formalise collaboration between both institutions dated back several years when he served as Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College.

He said: “I have a long institutional history with this university. During my tenure as Commandant of the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, we made serious efforts to formalise a partnership through a Memorandum of Understanding. We went very far in the process and were close to signing, but leadership changes on both sides affected the process.”

Despite the delay in formalising the agreement, the CGC noted that the Service had sustained support for the institution through several interventions designed to improve learning conditions and digital access.

“At different times, we supported the university with transportation facilities, including the provision of a 32-seater bus. We also established a fully equipped computer centre with close to one hundred workstations. These were deliberate efforts aimed at building lasting institutional partnerships,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs helmsman stressed that the Service was more interested in projects with direct and sustainable impact on students and the academic environment.

“For us, beyond legacy, what matters most is impact. We understand the realities facing Nigerian universities, from transportation challenges to infrastructure gaps. Our interest is to support initiatives that will create a conducive learning environment and positively impact students,” he said.

Adeniyi further explained that the Service was willing to adopt a phased implementation strategy in executing identified projects where necessary.

“If there are multiple projects and we are unable to execute everything at once, we can adopt a phased approach and focus on priority areas that will make the greatest difference,” he added.

He also underscored the importance of strengthening the profile of the Federal Capital Territory’s premier public university, noting that the institution should reflect Abuja’s national status.

“It is important for us to have a university in Abuja that truly reflects the status of Nigeria’s capital. I am willing to work with you in that regard,” the CGC noted.

Earlier, Fawehinmi commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi, describing the agency as a critical institution supporting the Federal Government’s economic and governance reforms.

He explained that the university’s growing student population and operational demands had made strategic partnerships increasingly important, especially in areas relating to transportation, ICT infrastructure and research support.

“We have come with the highest level of leadership of the university to congratulate you and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Nigeria Customs Service under your leadership.

“As the only conventional public university in the Federal Capital Territory, we face enormous responsibilities. Support in areas such as mass transit buses, ICT infrastructure, research facilities, and professional collaboration will significantly strengthen our capacity,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor also identified the university’s Centre for Defence and Migration Studies as a potential platform for collaboration with the Customs Service in border management, migration studies, executive training and national security research.

“We are ready to partner with the Nigeria Customs Service. The real beneficiaries of such collaboration will be young Nigerians who represent the future leadership of this country,” he added.