Following the preparation to commence the long-awaited African Volleyball Tournament in April 2025, the Nigeria Customs Service has named the First Lady and wife of the President of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, as the Grand Patron of the upcoming female volleyball tournament.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, made this announcement on Friday, March 14th, 2025, when he officially visited the First Lady at her office in Aso Rock Presidential Villa, Abuja.
During the engagement, CGC Adeniyi lauded the First Lady’s unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment, citing her Renewed Hope Initiative, which has positively impacted education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for women, youth, and vulnerable groups.
He noted that her leadership has inspired institutional reforms across various sectors, including the Nigeria Customs Service.
The CGC highlighted the Service’s investment in women’s sports, noting that its volleyball team has won the Volleyball Premier League in 2018, 2022, and 2024, as well as the Confederation of Africa Zone 3 Volleyball Championship in 2018 and 2019.
He expressed confidence that the First Lady’s presence at the championship would boost athletes’ morale.
Beyond sports, the CGC emphasised the Service’s commitment to gender balance, highlighting the appointment of women to strategic leadership positions, including Excise and Free Trade Zones, Tariff and Trade, and ICT/Modernization Departments.
He further acknowledged the contributions of female officers leading critical initiatives such as the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Programme, Single Window project, and Authorised Economic Operator Programme, which have significantly modernised Customs operations.
However, he reaffirmed the Service’s commitment to promoting women’s participation in leadership and sports, pledging continued support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the First Lady’s vision for gender inclusion in national development.
Responding, First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu accepted the offer, emphasising that women must continue to take up spaces in all spheres of life.
She further called on Nigerian female star athletes who have made names abroad to return home and inspire the next generation, urging figures like Tobi Amusan and others to actively mentor young girls in sports.
Recall that the Director-General of the National Sports Commission, Bukola Olopade, commended the Nigeria Customs Service on 17 February 2025 for securing the hosting rights for the CAVB 2025 Women’s African Club Volleyball Championship, scheduled to take place in Abuja from 1 to 14 April 2025.
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