By Seun Ibiyemi
SIFAX Group was prominently recognised as a major sponsor at the premiere of Novara, the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) debut feature film, held on Saturday, April 25, 2026, at Viva Cinemas in Ikeja.
The star-studded event brought together senior customs officials, business leaders, members of the diplomatic community, and entertainment figures, marking a significant moment in Nigeria’s institutional storytelling as the NCS used cinema to showcase the bravery and sacrifices of its officers in the fight against smuggling.
Representing SIFAX Group at the event, Mrs. Ololade Dawodu, Head of Clearing and Forwarding at SIFAX Shipping, said the film strongly reflects the realities of maritime operations at Tin Can Island Port, one of Nigeria’s busiest commercial gateways and a key hub within the company’s operational network.
(L-R): Joseph Okpanachi Adejoh, Superintendent of Customs I; (Centre) Ololade Dawodu, Head of Clearing and Forwarding at SIFAX Shipping; and other guests during the premiere of the Customs movie, Novara, at Viva Cinema, Ikeja.
She said the film goes beyond entertainment by exposing the high-stakes environment behind global logistics and maritime trade.
“For those of us in the industry, the sight of cargo ships and port operations is familiar, but this film takes us beyond the surface, revealing the high-stakes reality that underpins global logistics,” she said.
Dawodu added that the movie serves as a tribute to the courage and resilience of customs officers who protect the nation’s economic lifelines, noting that its portrayal of loss and sacrifice highlights the human cost of security enforcement.
“At SIFAX Group, we believe that a secure maritime sector is the backbone of a thriving economy. Without security, trade cannot flourish,” she stated.
SIFAX Group’s support for the project was also acknowledged by the film’s producer, Agozie Ugwu, and Superintendent of Customs 1, Okpanachi Adejoh, who both described the company’s sponsorship as instrumental to the successful production and premiere of the film.
Guests at the event commended both the storytelling and the growing collaboration between the creative industry and strategic national institutions, describing the project as a bold step in public sector storytelling.
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For SIFAX Group, the evening reinforced the importance of security in sustaining trade and logistics, stressing that infrastructure and expertise alone are not enough without strong institutional support and protection of national economic assets.
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Agozie Ugwu and featuring veteran Nollywood actors Francis Duru and Ray Adeka, Novara tells the story of Superintendent Panshak Asiya, an undercover customs officer who risks everything, including the safety of his family, to dismantle one of the country’s most dangerous smuggling syndicates.
The film explores themes of love, faith, sacrifice, and the hidden personal cost of law enforcement, while shedding light on the often-unseen risks involved in safeguarding Nigeria’s borders.
