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The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Alhaji Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been named as winner of the prestigious International Humanitarian Award 2026 by the United Towns Agency for North-South Cooperation (UTA).
The honour will be conferred on the Customs CG alongside other distinguished African leaders and dignitaries during UTA’s commemoration of the 2026 World Humanitarian Day scheduled for August 20, 2026 in Abuja, Nigeria.
Disclosing this during a courtesy visit by UTA team to Adeniyi in Abuja, the Country President of UTA-Nigeria, Amb Abigail Amalaha, said the International Humanitarian Award was instituted to recognize and celebrate worthy Africans whose policies, deeds, and interventions have positively impacted the lives of the less privileged in their communities, countries, and globally.
She stated that Adeniyi was nominated in recognition of his people-centred leadership at the Nigeria Customs Service, particularly through the flagship “Customs Cares” Corporate Social Responsibility Initiative.
She said that under Adeniyi’s leadership, the customs has rolled out nationwide interventions including: food and relief distribution to vulnerable communities, done medical outreaches, educational support for IDPs and orphanages, and empowerment programmes for women and youths.
“Dr. Adeniyi has demonstrated that a revenue agency can also be a humanitarian agency. The ‘Customs Cares’ Initiative has brought succour to thousands of Nigerians and redefined the Service’s relationship with host communities,” Amb Amalaha said.
In his response, the Comptroller-General expressed appreciation to UTA for the recognition.
“I am deeply humbled by this honour. It will spur the Nigeria Customs Service to do more for humanity. We remain committed to not only securing our borders and facilitating trade, but also to supporting vulnerable Nigerians and promoting human dignity. I commend UTA for the excellent work it is doing in alleviating the suffering of the less privileged,” Adeniyi stated.
Highlights of the event will be the presentation of the International Humanitarian Award to Dr. Adeniyi and other deserving Africans; a lecture, titled: “Breaking the Cycle: Achieving Lasting Solutions to Humanitarian Crises in Africa and Beyond” to be delivered by a renowned development and humanitarian expert, and the unveiling of UTA’s Flagship Project – “The UTA Social Centre,” a community intervention hub designed to provide skills acquisition, healthcare support, and welfare services to vulnerable populations.
A delegation from UTA Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland will be led by the Global Secretary-General, Amb. Dr. Eya Essif.
UTA is a United Nations affiliated international Non-Governmental Organization with Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The organisation, established in 1982 works to promote peace, sustainable development, and North-South cooperation.
The organization partners with governments, civil society, and international organizations to advance humanitarian action, poverty eradication, and sustainable development, with special focus on women, youth, refugees, and Internally Displaced Persons.
