By Peace Udugba
Joy filled the halls of Ife Girls High School in Ile-Ife, Osun State, as the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) commissioned a fully renovated facility under its flagship ‘Customs Cares’ Corporate Social Responsibility initiative.
Addressing the gathered crowd of students, staff, and state officials, Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Adewale Adeniyi emphasized the transformative power of learning. He urged the students to stay committed to their studies despite any challenges they might face.
”Education is the passport that you need for a better life, for a better future—not just for you, but for your parents, your community, and the country,” Adeniyi said. “It is education that’s going to make a difference in you, irrespective of how difficult it is for you.”
To further motivate academic excellence, the CGC announced full university scholarships for the school’s top three graduating students, laying down a challenge for them to strive for greatness.
“What this means is that I have thrown the ball into your court. I now want you to reward me back,” Adeniyi added, noting that the project is part of a broader corporate social responsibility drive being executed across different parts of the country.
Osun State Commissioner for Education, Honourable Dipo Eluwole, commended the initiative, calling the commissioning a major milestone for the state’s public education system. He highlighted that the project extended well beyond basic cosmetic fixes.
”This is indeed a comprehensive intervention,” Eluwole said. “It addresses the school’s educational, administrative, sanitary, recreational, environmental, and worker needs. It demonstrates an understanding that for students to learn effectively, their physical environment must also support their well-being.”
Expressing gratitude on behalf of the institution, the Principal of Ife Girls High School, Martina Akinremi, thanked the NCS for investing directly in the students’ futures. She assured the delegation that the school community would properly maintain the upgraded facilities so future generations of girls could benefit to the fullest potential.
