By Suleiman Aremu | Solaremnews | Wednesday 7, October, 2026
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has marked the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a sensitisation programme aimed at promoting awareness, early detection and prevention of breast cancer among its officers and stakeholders.
The programme, held on Tuesday, October 6, 2026, at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, was organised under the theme, “Inspect, Detect, Protect,” and brought together Customs officers, medical professionals and partners to strengthen awareness and encourage proactive health practices.
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 ensure that cancer is not treated as a stigma or a death sentence.
Adebakin stressed that sustained education and sensitisation were essential to promoting 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.
She encouraged officers to remain vigilant about their health and to make regular health checks an important part of their personal wellbeing.
The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who was the Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, also called on officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and timely medical attention.
Adeniyi observed that women often devoted considerable attention to the wellbeing of their families while neglecting their own health, urging them to make personal health a priority.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she said.
She further reminded male officers that breast cancer could also affect men, urging them to remain informed and support women in their families and communities.
Also speaking, the Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had been promoting breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years.
She emphasised the need for continuous sensitisation and regular screening, noting that early detection remained critical to addressing the disease and improving health outcomes.
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 demonstrate the same level of diligence applied to Customs operations in taking care of their personal health.
“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone,” she said.
The awareness programme featured a health talk, medical session, survivor testimony and a question-and-answer segment, providing participants with an opportunity to gain further information about breast cancer, its detection and prevention.
The event culminated in free breast cancer screening for officers and other participants, translating the awareness campaign into practical health action.
The NCS said the initiative underscored the importance of sustained health education, early detection and collective action in the fight against breast cancer, while encouraging officers and stakeholders to take proactive steps towards protecting their health.
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