PR Conference Award Night: Customs Honours Outstanding Officers as CGC Adeniyi Bags Lifetime Achievement Award
As part of the just concluded 2026 Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) honoured outstanding officers and personnel for their excellence, commitment, and professionalism during the conference’s Award Night on Thursday.
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, received the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions to public relations, strategic communication, and institutional reforms.
The award night brought together senior Customs officers, communication experts, media executives, and development partners to recognise excellence, inspire greater commitment, and promote a culture of professionalism across the Service.
Presenting the awards, the National Public Relations Officer, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada, explained that the ceremony was designed to celebrate officers whose dedication, professionalism, and innovation have distinguished them in the discharge of their responsibilities.
“Recognising excellence is one of the most effective ways of motivating officers to do more. Tonight, we celebrate commitment, hard work, and the values that continue to strengthen the image and reputation of the Nigeria Customs Service,” DC Maiwada stated.
Speaking during the ceremony, the President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the Comptroller-General’s leadership in institutionalising professionalism and capacity building within the Public Relations Unit.
Dr. Neliaku noted that recognising excellence inspires others to strive for higher standards.
“The Nigeria Customs Service has demonstrated that strategic communication remains central to institutional success and public confidence,” he added.
Also speaking, the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Comrade Alhassan Yahaya, described the initiative as a worthy investment in human capital.
Comrade Yahaya stressed that any organisation that rewards hard work and professionalism is laying a solid foundation for sustainable growth.
“We encourage the award recipients to remain committed to ethical conduct, transparency, and national service,” he said.
Other major honours presented during the ceremony included the Distinguished Service Award in Public Relations, which was conferred on Superintendent of Customs Elizabeth Anawanti and Superintendent of Customs Umar Abdullahi.
Chief Superintendent of Customs Nuruddeen Sa’idu and Yusuf received the Award for Outstanding Contribution to the Development of the Nigeria Customs Service Public Relations Unit, while Chief Superintendent of Customs Lukman Abdullahi-Lagos won the Alex Akiyenyele Award for Outstanding PRO of the Year.
Similarly, the ceremony featured the presentation of the Best Dressed Male and Best Dressed Female Officer Awards. In a separate category, Abdulkarim Zurmi and Lucy Nyambi were recognised as the Best NCBN Staff Attached to the Public Relations Unit for their dedication and outstanding support to the Unit’s activities.
