By Helen Udo, Outlook Media ABUJA.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, on Thursday, 26 September 2024, reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s unwavering commitment to advancing education by investing additional resources into the Service’s schools nationwide.
CGC Adeniyi made this declaration while serving as the Chairman of the occasion during the official launch of the book Business Geek: Innovative Incubator From Concept to Reality, authored by the wife of one of a high-ranking officer of NCS, Asma’u Isah Maibasirah, at the NAF Conference Centre, Abuja.
In his address, CGC Adeniyi emphasised that providing quality education remains a top priority for the Nigeria Customs Service, as it plays a critical role in the nation’s development—by building and renovating primary and secondary schools in various states.
He highlighted the importance of ensuring that every child, regardless of background, has access to an excellent educational experience. He added that the Nigeria Customs Service will continue to deploy resources to address this issue.
The Comptroller-General, who pointed out that the book offers valuable insights into entrepreneurship and innovation, which are critical for addressing the country’s unemployment challenges, also stated, “There must be something in this book that we must pay serious attention to.”
He added, “It is a very timely intervention because we have a high unemployment rate, especially among the youth, and I believe this is the time we must all grab this book.
“The Business Geek book, authored by Asma’u, aims to foster a culture of creativity and business acumen among Nigerians, particularly the youth, by providing practical guidance on transforming innovative concepts into viable enterprises.”
The CGC commended the author’s initiative and noted that the book aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s agenda of empowering small-scale businesses to revitalise the economy.
CGC Adeniyi, however, pledged the support of the Nigeria Customs Service in collaborating with the author to ensure the book reaches a wider audience, adding, “We are committed to supporting the author in providing adequate printed copies whenever the need arises.”
In his review of the book, Professor Muhammad Aliyu Paiko, Vice-Chancellor of Abdulkadir Kure University, Minna, Niger State, described the publication as insightful and robust research material for intellectuals and students alike.
He lauded the author for her thorough research and compelling presentation of ideas relevant to academic and professional audiences.
Addressing the gathering, the author of the book, Dr Maibasirah, expressed her profound gratitude to Mrs Kikelomo Adewale Adeniyi, who represented the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her unwavering support towards the success of the publication.
Dr Maibasirah acknowledged the critical role the First Lady played in providing encouragement and assistance that ensured the book’s successful launch.
She also appreciated the Comptroller-General and his team for their immense support, which she noted had a positive impact on the entire process of publishing and launching the book.
Additionally, she extended her sincere thanks to the former Governor of Zamfara State, Senator Abdulaziz Yari, who served as the Chief Launcher at the ceremony, and other distinguished guests for their presence and contributions to the event.
According to her, the Business Geek book contributes to the discourse on entrepreneurship and highlights efforts to promote small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as a pathway to economic prosperity.
The event drew participants from various sectors and served as a platform for discussing strategies for enhancing entrepreneurial skills and leveraging innovative solutions for national development.
