By Saminu Ibrahim
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has marked the 2026 Breast Cancer Awareness Month with a sensitisation programme aimed at promoting early detection, prevention and effective management of the disease among its officers and stakeholders.
The programme, held on Tuesday at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, was organised under the theme, “Inspect, Detect, Protect.”
The event brought together Customs officers, medical professionals and partners as part of efforts to strengthen awareness and encourage regular screening for breast cancer.
The Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of Information and Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, who represented the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, urged officers to prioritise their health and shun the stigma associated with cancer.
Adebakin said cancer should not be regarded as a death sentence, stressing that education and sensitisation remained critical to early detection and effective treatment.
“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.
The President of the Customs Officers’ Wives Association (COWA), Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who was the Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to prioritise their health through regular self-examination and prompt medical attention.
She noted that women often prioritised the wellbeing of their families at the expense of their own health, urging them to make personal health checks a routine.
“Fellow officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she said.
Adeniyi also reminded male officers that breast cancer could affect men, urging them to support women in their families and communities in promoting awareness and early detection.
The Project Manager of the BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, said the initiative had sustained breast cancer awareness within the NCS for three years.
She called for continued sensitisation and regular screening, stressing that early detection remained crucial to tackling 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 urged Customs personnel to apply the same diligence they demonstrate in their official duties to their personal health.
“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 question-and-answer segment.
It culminated in free breast cancer screening for officers and participants, providing an opportunity for early detection and translating the awareness campaign into practical health action.
