Customs, Yakubu Gowon University renew alliance on research, infrastructure development
Maureen Aguta
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and Yakubu Gowon University, Abuja, have renewed efforts to strengthen their long-standing institutional partnership, with Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, pledging deeper collaboration in research, infrastructure support and student development.
Adeniyi gave the assurance on Tuesday at the Customs Headquarters in Maitama, Abuja, while receiving the Vice-Chancellor of the university, Hakeem Fawehinmi, and other principal officers of the institution during a courtesy visit.
The Customs boss said the Service was determined to revive and expand years of engagement with the university, formerly known as the University of Abuja, stressing that the relationship had already produced significant institutional support in the past.
“I have a long institutional history with this university,” Adeniyi said. “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.”
Despite the stalled agreement, Adeniyi noted that the Service continued to support the university through strategic interventions targeted at improving learning and institutional capacity.
“At different times, we supported the university with transportation facilities, including the provision of a 32-seater bus. We also established a fully equipped computer centre with close to one hundred workstations. These were deliberate efforts aimed at building lasting institutional partnerships,” he stated.
The CGC assured the university management that the Service would review fresh proposals for collaboration, particularly projects capable of delivering measurable impact on students and the learning environment.
“For us, beyond legacy, what matters most is impact,” he said. “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.”
Adeniyi further disclosed that the Service was open to implementing projects in phases where necessary, prioritising areas with the greatest immediate benefits.
“If there are multiple projects and we are unable to execute everything at once, we can adopt a phased approach and focus on priority areas that will make the greatest difference,” he added.
He also underscored the strategic importance of strengthening the capacity and identity of a federal university located in the nation’s capital.
“It is important for us to have a university in Abuja that truly reflects the status of Nigeria’s capital. I am willing to work with you in that regard,” the Customs helmsman stated.
Earlier, Fawehinmi commended the leadership of the Nigeria Customs Service under Adeniyi, describing the agency as one of the institutions driving the Federal Government’s economic and governance reforms.
“We have come with the highest level of leadership of the university to congratulate you and appreciate the tremendous work being done by the Nigeria Customs Service under your leadership,” he said.
The Vice-Chancellor explained that the visit was aimed at exploring new areas of strategic cooperation between both institutions, especially as the university grapples with rising operational and infrastructural demands driven by its growing student population of nearly 40,000.
“As the only conventional public university in the Federal Capital Territory, we face enormous responsibilities. Support in areas such as mass transit buses, ICT infrastructure, research facilities and professional collaboration will significantly strengthen our capacity,” he said.
Fawehinmi also identified the university’s Centre for Defence and Migration Studies as a potential platform for collaboration with the Customs Service in areas including 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,” he added.