Nigeria Customs Service endorses NSC athletes training grant programme ahead of commonwealth games
By Uzor Odigbo
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), under Comptroller-General Adewale Adeniyi, has thrown its weight behind the National Sports Commission’s (NSC) Athletes Training Grant Programme as Nigeria ramps up preparations for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.
The NCS provided critical support to the NSC’s initiative, aimed at enhancing elite athletes’ readiness for major international competitions.
About two weeks ago, 26 elite athletes from various sports received training grants totaling over ₦200 million under the programme. The funding targets improved access to quality coaching, better nutrition, modern training equipment, and participation in competitive events.
The NSC noted that the Customs Service’s backing arrives at a pivotal moment, as athletes enter the final phase of preparations for global events. The grants are designed to alleviate financial pressures that often impede peak performance, allowing beneficiaries to concentrate fully on training.
Beyond institutional backing, Comptroller-General Adeniyi—widely regarded as a passionate sports administrator—serves as President of the Nigeria Wrestling Federation, where he has championed structured funding, grassroots development, and athlete welfare.
His dedication to Nigerian sports was evident during the recent Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco, where he mobilized support for the Super Eagles to boost morale and national solidarity.
This week, that commitment extended to infrastructure with the commissioning of the Wale Adeniyi Sports Arena in Ibafon, Lagos. The facility, built as a Corporate Social Responsibility initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service, was formally inaugurated by the Comptroller-General.
The arena is poised to become a hub for community sports development, talent scouting, and youth engagement, underscoring the NCS’s growing role beyond its core revenue and border security mandate.
