Breast cancer : Customs leads awareness campaign in Abuja
Breast cancer : Customs leads awareness campaign in Abuja
…As COWA President, others harp on early detection
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has intensified its campaign against breast cancer, leading officers and stakeholders in a sensitisation programme designed to promote early detection, regular screening and preventive healthcare.
The awareness programme, held on 6 October 2026 at the NCS Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, as part of activities marking Breast Cancer Awareness Month, demonstrates the Service’s commitment to safeguarding the health and wellbeing of its personnel while deepening awareness of one of the most prevalent forms of cancer.
With the theme, “Inspect, Detect, Protect,” the programme brought together Customs officers, medical professionals, partners, and other stakeholders to foster greater awareness of breast cancer and encourage proactive health-seeking behaviour.
Representing the Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, the Deputy Comptroller General in charge of Information, Communication Technology and Modernisation, Oluyomi Adebakin, said breast cancer and other forms of cancer should not be viewed through the prism of stigma, fear or hopelessness.
She urged officers to take greater responsibility for their health, noting that sustained education, awareness and timely medical intervention remained critical to early detection and effective management of the disease.
According to her, the campaign was not merely about disseminating information but offering hope, compassion and practical support to those affected by cancer.
“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,” Adebakin said.
In her remarks, the President, Customs Officers’ Wives Association, COWA, Mrs Kikelomo Adeniyi, who served as Special Guest of Honour and keynote speaker, urged officers, particularly women, to make their personal health a priority rather than continually placing the wellbeing of their families ahead of their own.
She emphasised the importance of regular self-examination, routine screening and prompt medical attention, stressing that early detection could significantly improve the prospects of effective treatment and recovery.
“Officers, you must be alive before you get promoted. Check on yourself,” she admonished.
The COWA President also dispelled the misconception that breast cancer is exclusively a woman”s disease, reminding male officers that men could also develop the condition. She urged them to remain vigilant about their own health while supporting women within their families and communities to undergo regular checks.
The Manager of BOYA Project, Fauziya Abubakar, disclosed that the initiative had sustained breast cancer awareness within the Nigeria Customs Service for three consecutive years, stressing that the fight against the disease requires continuous sensitisation rather than a once-a-year campaign.
She advocated regular screening and increased awareness among officers, noting that early detection remains one of the most effective ways of improving outcomes for people affected by breast cancer.
A significant boost to the campaign came from the Managing Director of Trade Modernisation Project Limited, Dr Jummai Umar-Ajijola, who pledged N50 million in support of the fight against breast cancer.
Umar-Ajijola urged participants to demonstrate the same vigilance and diligence they apply to Customs operations in taking care of their personal health, emphasising that seeking information and medical attention should never be delayed when concerns arise.
“When you are not sure, always ask and always check. No one has to fight this alone,” she said.
The programme also featured health talk, medical session, survivors testimony and interactive question-and-answer segment, providing participants with ample opportunity to gain practical knowledge about breast cancer, its warning signs, prevention and the importance of early intervention.
The campaign culminated in free breast cancer screening for officers and other participants, thereby translating the message of awareness into concrete preventive healthcare action.
Through this laudable initiative, the Nigeria Customs Service reaffirmed that the protection of its personnel extends beyond operational duties to include their health and overall wellbeing, while reinforcing the message that early detection, timely intervention and collective support remain powerful tools in the fight against breast cancer.
