The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reinforced its commitment to developing the next generation of public relations professionals by bringing together academics, communication experts, and students at its 2026 Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt.
The mentorship-driven session, held on Thursday, July 23, focused on bridging the gap between classroom learning and professional practice through practical career guidance, real-world case studies, and interactive learning designed to prepare aspiring practitioners for the evolving demands of strategic communication.
The session, which served as the centrepiece of the second day of the conference, brought together students and scholars from Rivers State University, the University of Port Harcourt, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt.
The panel featured Chief Superintendent of Customs Luqman Abdullahi and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Folusho Adeogun. It was moderated by Amina Yuguda, Head of Station, Nigeria Customs Service Broadcasting Network. The panel provided practical career guidance and advocated the use of simulation exercises and role-playing to prepare emerging public relations practitioners for modern communication challenges.
Addressing the audience, the National Public Relations Officer and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, emphasised that effective public relations must prioritise continuous mentorship to build leaders capable of sustaining institutional trust.
DC Maiwada encouraged younger officers and students to cultivate character, competence, clarity, consistency, and cost-consciousness as foundational pillars for career progression and professional development.
“Effective public relations must extend beyond information dissemination to mentoring future leaders built on character, competence, and clarity,” he stated.
The conference also featured practical masterclasses in which senior officers used ongoing Customs reforms as real-world learning tools. Assistant Superintendent of Customs I (ASCI) Usman Idris explained how strategic stakeholder engagement and media campaigns drove the rollout of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
Similarly, ASCI Joseph Adejoh highlighted transparency and early engagement strategies drawn from the implementation of the Advanced Ruling System and the One-Stop Shop.
Rounding out the technical sessions, the NCS Headquarters Social Media Team mentored participants on digital communication tools, audience analytics, and proactive online reputation management.
Organisers noted that the mentorship-driven event reinforces the Service‘s broader strategy to build a modern, adaptable, and forward-looking public relations workforce equipped to strengthen public confidence and support ongoing institutional reforms.
