The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Western Marine Command, on Monday, inaugurated the Wale Adeniyi Secondary School Sports Competition 2026 at the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena (WASA), Ibafon, Lagos.
It is with a call for greater youth development and community unity through sports.
Mohammed Babandede, the Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs,
said the competition reflected the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi.
He said that Adeniyi’s aim was to promote community engagement and personnel welfare.
Babandede added that the sports arena, inaugurated on Feb. 11, was established under the “Customs Cares” initiative to develop young people physically, mentally and socially through sports and positive interaction.
He said that the facility was deliberately located along the waterfront to bridge the gap between the Nigeria Customs Service and host communities, using sports as tool for social integration and community development.
He noted that the initiative was in partnership with the National Association of Proprietors of Private Schools (NAPPS), Ajeromi-Ifelodun Chapter, led by Mrs Morenike Akerele.
According to him, 11 secondary schools would compete in football, basketball, volleyball, chess, scrabble and table tennis during the week-long competition.
Babandede said the tournament was designed to discover sporting talents while promoting discipline, teamwork and healthy competition among students.
He described young people as the foundation of national development and stressed that “work-life balance remained an important value within the Customs Service.
“By building this arena and hosting competitions, we are demonstrating excellence in public service and excellence in life should complement each other.”
He urged participants to embrace friendship, unity and mutual respect throughout the games, noting that collaboration among schools, Customs, NAPPS, the Lagos State Ministry of Education and host communities would strengthen national cohesion.
Babandede commended NAPPS for partnering the service to promote youth development through education and sports before officially declaring the competition open.
The opening ceremony was attended by the Olu of Iwa and Apapa Kingdom, Oba Moroof Oluwa; the Executive Chairman of Ajeromi-Ifelodun Local Government, Mr Olalekan Akindipe.
Others were representatives of the Lagos State Ministry of Education, Customs Area Controllers, principals, teachers, traditional rulers and security officials.
The Customs Area Comptroller, Western Marine Command, Comptroller Patrick Ntadi, announced that the Comptroller-General of Customs had pledged to sponsor any student who distinguished himself or herself during the competition.
Ntadi said the initiative was part of the service’s commitment to promoting sports among young people, keeping children positively engaged and discovering talents capable of representing Nigeria in future competitions.
He encouraged participants to give their best, assuring them that exceptional performances would be recognised and rewarded.
The Olu of Iwa Kingdom commended the Nigeria Customs Service for investing in youth development through sports.
He said Nigeria would make faster progress if other security agencies adopted similar community-based initiatives.
The traditional ruler, a retired footballer, said the Iwa Kingdom had rich sporting heritage and pledged the community’s continued support for the Customs Service.
He urged students to maximise the opportunity provided by the competition and noted that sports, education and agriculture remained critical drivers of national development.
Deputy Comptroller Ogburu Akpevwoghene also addressed participants, sharing her achievements as a motorcycle adventurer to inspire young people.
She said that in November 2023, she became the first Nigerian woman to undertake a solo motorcycle expedition across 12 West African countries, covering about 8,000 kilometres in 23 days to study cross-border trade challenges.
Akpevwoghene added that in August 2025, she completed a 21,080-kilometre motorcycle journey from Nigeria to Europe through 21 countries in 72 days.
She said that the expedition, with the theme — “A Ride for Women Inclusivity”, was aimed at promoting girl-child empowerment and advancing research on cross-border trade.
She encouraged students never to give up on their dreams, urging them to remain focused and determined, regardless of challenges they might encounter.
Representative of NAPPS, Mr Christopher Obuku, commended the Lagos State Ministry of Education and the Nigeria Customs Service for bringing together public and private schools through sports.
Obuku said the competition would foster unity, friendship, teamwork, discipline and integrity among students beyond the quest for medals.
He also applauded teachers, parents and organisers for investing in the future of young people and praised the participation of female role models.
He particularly thanked the Deputy Comptroller Akpevwoghene for inspiring girls to pursue excellence in sports and leadership.
The competition is expected to conclude with the presentation of awards to outstanding athletes and teams.
The organisers expressed optimism that the values of discipline, unity and fair play promoted during the event would have lasting impact on participants.
