The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged to revitalise the long-standing institutional relationship between the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Yakubu Gowon University (formerly University of Abuja), with renewed support aimed at strengthening learning, research, and student development.
Adeniyi made the commitment on Tuesday, May 5, 2026, at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Professor Hakeem Fawehinmi, who led a delegation of principal officers on a courtesy visit.
Reflecting on the history of collaboration, Adeniyi noted that efforts to formalise a partnership between the two institutions date back several years. “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,” he recalled.
Despite the delay, Adeniyi highlighted the Service’s consistent support for the university, citing interventions such as the donation of a 32-seater bus and the establishment of a fully equipped computer centre with nearly 100 workstations. He assured the university management that Customs would carefully examine new areas of collaboration, prioritising projects capable of delivering meaningful impact.
“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.
He further emphasised the importance of having a university in the nation’s capital that reflects the status and identity of the Federal Capital Territory, pledging to work with the institution through a phased implementation model to ensure sustainability.
In his remarks, Professor Fawehinmi commended the leadership of the Comptroller-General and the contributions of the Nigeria Customs Service to national development, describing the Service as a key partner in the Federal Government’s economic and governance reforms.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the visit was aimed at exploring strategic partnerships to address the university’s growing operational and infrastructural demands, noting that the institution’s undergraduate population of nearly 40,000 presents enormous responsibilities.
He identified areas of potential collaboration, including mass transit support, ICT infrastructure, research facilities, and professional training. He also highlighted the university’s Centre for Defence and Migration Studies as a platform for joint initiatives 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,” Fawehinmi affirmed.