Joel Ajayi

The Sports Secretary of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Samuel Onikeku, has reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to using sports as a strategic tool for youth empowerment, describing its sustained investment in athletics as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts aimed at positively engaging young Nigerians.

Speaking on Monday at the ongoing 2026 Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) Volleyball Premier League, first phase, in Abuja, Onikeku said the initiative aligns with the vision of the Comptroller-General of Customs and his management team to keep youths productively engaged through sports, education, and other developmental programmes.

According to him, the Nigeria Customs Service has consistently expanded its CSR interventions beyond sports to include support for schools and educational development, while its growing investment in volleyball is already making a significant impact on the country’s sporting landscape.

“The CGC is committed to ensuring that young people are meaningfully engaged so they can contribute positively to national development. That is why the Nigeria Customs Service continues to invest in sports development,” he said.

Onikeku noted that the partnership between the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigeria Volleyball Federation (NVBF) has contributed immensely to the growth of volleyball in Nigeria, adding that the collaboration would further strengthen the country’s competitiveness in Africa.

He expressed confidence that Nigerian volleyball would soon reclaim its place among Africa’s elite, citing steady progress and valuable international exposure gained through recent competitions.

Speaking on team preparations, Onikeku revealed that both the men’s and women’s teams have benefited from international engagements in Ghana, Cairo, and Kigali, experiences he said have greatly boosted player confidence and readiness.

“Thankfully, the CGC and his management supported our teams to compete in Ghana for the women, and in Cairo and Kigali for the men. These experiences have motivated the players significantly,” he said.

He added that the Customs teams remain focused despite increasing competition. The women’s team, he noted, won last season’s league title without losing a single match, making them the team to beat this year.

“The female team won the league last year unbeaten. Naturally, every team now wants to challenge them, but we are prepared,” he stated.

Also speaking, the 2nd Vice President of the Nigeria Volleyball Federation, Architect Adamu Tenimu, described the Premier League as the highest platform for showcasing volleyball excellence in Nigeria.

He noted that both locally based and internationally exposed players use the league to demonstrate their talents, while emerging players also gain opportunities to impress selectors for the national team.

Tenimu acknowledged the financial burden of organizing multiple competitions but stressed that the federation remains committed to sustaining the league and upcoming events, including the international beach volleyball championship scheduled for Badagry in July.

He also commended the Nigeria Customs Service for its support, noting that ongoing efforts to attract sponsorship and strategic partnerships would further enhance the federation’s activities and drive long-term growth for volleyball in Nigeria.

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