Ogun Customs Launches AFENI Cup to Tackle Border Smuggling Through School Football
Kathy Kyari
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Ogun I Area Command, has launched the AFENI Cup 2026, an inter-secondary school football tournament in Idiroko, as part of a strategic effort to discourage youths from engaging in border smuggling while promoting education, discipline and sports development.
Organised in collaboration with Jonnyyeko College of Health Science and Technology as part of the Command's Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative, the tournament aims to provide students with positive opportunities while encouraging them to pursue legitimate careers instead of illicit cross-border activities.
The competition comes against the backdrop of the long-standing challenge of youth involvement in smuggling in the border town, where economic pressures have made many young people vulnerable to illegal trade.
Declaring the tournament open, the Acting Customs Area Controller of Ogun I Area Command, Deputy Comptroller Oladapo Afeni, said the initiative was intended to reshape the aspirations of young people and demonstrate that success could be achieved through lawful means.
"Smuggling robs our youth of their future. By sponsoring this competition, we aren't just playing football; we are providing a platform for advocacy, teaching life skills, and showing these students that their potential extends far beyond the border tracks," Afeni said.
He added that beyond promoting healthy competition, the AFENI Cup was designed to identify and nurture football talents at an early stage while encouraging participants to view sports as a viable and rewarding career path.
The tournament features 12 secondary school teams drawn from across the local government area, with hundreds of students participating as players and supporters.
Educational authorities, youth associations and community leaders have thrown their weight behind the initiative, describing it as a timely intervention that will help keep students focused on their education and away from the lure of smuggling.
At the end of the competition, winning schools and outstanding players will receive cash prizes and educational materials in recognition of their performance.
The tournament commenced on July 13, 2026, at Iko Gate Grammar School, Idiroko, and will culminate in a grand finale scheduled for July 24, 2026.
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