The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has marked Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a sensitisation programme to promote awareness, early detection, and prevention of breast cancer among officers and stakeholders.
The programme, themed “Inspect, Detect, Protect,” was held at the NCS headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, on October 6, 2026. It brought together officers, medical professionals, and partners to strengthen the fight against the disease.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, stated that cancer should not be regarded as a stigma or the end of life.
DCG Adebakin urged officers to remain vigilant about their health, emphasising that education and sensitisation were critical to the early detection and effective 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.
In her remarks, the President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs. Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as the Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and timely medical attention.
Mrs. Adeniyi noted that women often focused on the wellbeing of their families while neglecting their own health, highlighting the importance of early detection.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she advised.
She also reminded male officers that breast cancer can affect men, urging them to support women in their families and communities.
The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, affirmed that the initiative had championed breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years, stressing the need for sustained sensitisation and regular screening.
Abubakar noted that early detection remained critical in addressing the disease.
A major highlight of the programme was a ₦50 million pledge by the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr. Jummai Umar-Ajijola, to support the fight against breast cancer.
Umar-Ajijola encouraged participants to apply the same diligence they used in Customs operations to their personal health.
“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone,” Umar-Ajijola remarked.
The programme also featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony, and a question-and-answer segment before culminating in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants, thereby turning the awareness campaign into practical action.
