By Sam Otuonye
In a significant move to strengthen strategic communication and professionalise its Public Relations workforce, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has inducted seventy Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), marking the Service’s first mass induction into the Institute since 2013.
According to a statement released on Tuesday by the Service, the induction took place at the Service’s Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja, reflecting the Service’s commitment to building a corps of certified communication professionals equipped to effectively project its reforms, operations and institutional achievements.
Addressing the newly inducted officers, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service’s communication architecture. He noted that the Service’s transformation, including its recognition as the best-performing government agency in Ease of Doing Business, was the result of deliberate reforms that require competent professionals to communicate the Service’s successes with clarity, credibility and purpose.
He added that as the Service transitions to a technology-driven Customs administration, Public Relations practitioners must remain proactive in countering misinformation, managing public perception and sustaining stakeholders’ confidence. “Rumours will be heard, narratives will be pushed, so be ready to use your communication with clarity and the necessary measures so rumours can be addressed swiftly and decisively,” the Comptroller-General charged.
CGC Adeniyi also revealed that the Service’s flagship Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative – Customs Cares, is set to receive recognition at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games, describing it as a legacy project whose impact must continue to be amplified through strategic, ethical and professional communication.
In his remarks, the President and Chairman of Council of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations, Dr. Ike Neliaku commended the Service for prioritising professionalism and investing in the development of certified communication practitioners. He observed that under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, the Service has evolved into a national institution admired for its reforms, corporate excellence and growing influence within the global Customs community. “You can no longer dismiss matters concerning the Service. You must be proud of this as a Nigerian,” Dr. Neliaku stated.
Also speaking, retired Comptroller of Customs and former National Public Relations Officer Joseph Attah urged the newly inducted officers to uphold the ethics of the Public Relations profession by remaining truthful, accurate and responsible in their communication. He encouraged them to embrace continuous professional development through seminars, workshops and active participation in NIPR activities, stressing that effective crisis communication demands composure, empathy and strategic thinking.
In his welcome remarks, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Aliyu Maiwada, asserted that this milestone would not have been achieved without the commitment of the Comptroller General of Customs as well other former Spokespersons of the Service who nurtured the unit to this enviable height.
The induction of the seventy officers marks another milestone in the Service’s ongoing reform agenda and reinforces its commitment to institutionalising excellence in strategic communication.
