The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has conferred a Fellowship Award on the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, in recognition of his excellence in public service.
Adeniyi, who became the first alumnus of the institute to be awarded the fellowship, received the honour at a special convocation ceremony presided over by the Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Aremo Olusegun Osoba. The event was held at the Sir Kessington Adebutu Media Resource Centre in Ogba, Lagos, on Wednesday.
The event attracted senior Customs officers and notable dignitaries, including ACG Mohammed Babandede; Vice Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Mr. Ray Ekpu; founder of Vanguard Newspaper, Mr. Sam Amuka; Chairman of the National Sports Commission, Malam Shehu Dikko; as well as veteran journalists and captains of industry.
In his address, Aremo Osoba described the ceremony as historic and emphasised that due process was followed in selecting Adeniyi for the prestigious fellowship.
He noted that the conferment received the approval of President Bola Tinubu, highlighting its national significance. Osoba also revealed that Adeniyi is making history as the first alumnus of the institute to be awarded the fellowship.
According to him, the NIJ fellowship is reserved for individuals who have recorded landmark achievements — not only in their professions but also in education and national development.
Osoba recalled that the last recipient of the fellowship was Sir Kessington Adebutu, who was honoured for his widespread contributions to education, youth development, and community service across Nigeria.
He explained that, like Sir Adebutu, Adeniyi was carefully selected after thorough deliberation by the institute’s governing board, noting that the decision to honour him was unanimous.
Osoba praised Adeniyi’s distinguished career, highlighting his rise through the ranks to become the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service. He commended his leadership, particularly his role in significantly increasing revenue generation from billions to trillions of naira.
He further noted Adeniyi’s global recognition, including his election as Chairperson of the World Customs Council (WCO), describing it as a remarkable achievement that brought honour to Nigeria.
The former Ogun State governor also applauded Adeniyi’s commitment to personal development, noting that he recently earned a PhD through rigorous academic work.
“Everything in his life, he earned,” Osoba said, stressing that the fellowship was not awarded lightly but in recognition of sustained excellence and integrity.
He formally announced the conferment, saying: “It is my pleasure to declare that the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, is hereby awarded the Fellowship of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism.”
Speaking after being conferred with the Fellowship Award, CGC Adeniyi expressed gratitude to NIJ and reflected on his journey. He recalled his time as a young student who passed through the institution in 1989 and described the honour as a “full-circle moment.”
He noted that the values instilled in him during his formative years — professionalism, discipline, and a commitment to continuous self-development, have remained the foundation of his nearly four-decade career in public service.
Adeniyi acknowledged that the recognition serves as a reaffirmation that the Institute’s investment in him has yielded lasting impact. “This institution planted in me values I did not fully understand at the time, but which I have lived by ever since,” he stated.
He announced the donation of a two-storey multimedia resource centre to the Institute, disclosing that the facility will house modern production and editing studios, classrooms, and staff offices, all designed to equip students with practical, industry-relevant skills for 21st-century journalism.
He also pledged support for the upgrade of the NIJ community radio, revealing plans to transition it from an online platform to a full terrestrial station through the provision of a transmitter and other critical infrastructure.
The Customs boss added that the initiatives form part of a broader Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework under his leadership, focused on advancing education, capacity building, and professional development across Nigeria.
While addressing students at the event, Adeniyi encouraged them to remain dedicated to personal growth and excellence, assuring them that consistent effort will eventually be rewarded.
“The distance between the platform and the podium is shorter than you think,” he said, urging them to continue building their skills and taking advantage of opportunities.
