ZAINAB JUNAID
The Comptroller General of Customs, CGC Adewale Adeniyi has introduced a mindset and strategy that drives Officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) towards achieving significant breakthrough in the Service.
Speaking at a three-day 2024 Public Relations Conference held in Abuja, with the theme “Navigating the Horizon: The evolving paradigm Shift in Public Relations activities of Nigeria Customs Service”, CGC Adeniyi emphasized the importance of PR strategies in achieving rapid and substantial success in the Service.
The CGC noted that all Public Relations Officers in the Service have demonstrated productivity, discipline, commitment and professional standards with this strategy.
According to him, Public Relations has helped Customs Officers in the PR Units to reposition the Commands and make them more relevant.
“They’ve demonstrated excellence in everything they do and must continue to Command presence and recognition by striving to be the best version of themselves hence the essence of this conference. Capacity Building is not a one-off event, we know that PR is evolving in response to the evolving society and as society evolves, strategies have to evolve. I therefore implore you all to leverage on the opportunities provided by ICT, and we must continue to be strategic in our approach to communications,” he said.
He charged all Officers to always align their achievements to the objectives of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which centered around de-congesting the Ports, bringing in Single Window, and making the Ports more efficient and competitive.
“Officers must take responsibility of explaining all tools introduced, strategies and partnership engaged in, to all Stakeholders for proper understanding,” he added.
Adeniyi pledged continuous support for PR activities in the Service with more investment in capacity building to make job easier for all Officers and ensure there is robust communication strategy in the PR Units to bridge any form of communication gap in the future.
In his remarks, the Public Relations Officer of the Service, Chief Superintendent of Customs, CSC Abdullahi Maiwada, underscored the importance of the conference saying it reflected the current position of the Service.
His words, “This conference is not merely a gathering of minds but an avenue to collectively reflect our journey, assess our present and envision our future. As we explore the chronicles of progress, we traced the historical path of our unit, acknowledging the milestone reached, the challenges overcome and the invaluable lessons learned along the way. The current landscape of PR strategies, media relations and Communication technologies are shaping the identity of the Service today. Our focus will shift to future horizon, where we will envision the roles and strategies of the PR Units in the coming years. We must embrace innovation adaptability, and emerging trends to ensure our communication remain effective and relevant in the ever evolving global village”.
Maiwada highlighted how PR Strategy has enhanced significant breakthrough in the quest for effective communication in the Service which laid a solid foundation for the PR Units transformative journey.
To him, “Understanding the strengths and weaknesses through SWAT analysis and gathering feedback has been instrumental in improving communication strategies, our efforts to enhance media relations, establish strategic partnership and strengthen administrative efficiency have contributed to our success as a strategic unit of the Service.
“We have made remarkable success in embracing PR and digitalizing data analysis to analyze trends and predict their impacts. We have successfully participated in managing significant events and also enhanced Stakeholders engagement and upheld the values of NCS into the CGC’s Policy thrust of Collaboration, Consolidation and Innovation with PR strategies”.
Similarly, Deputy Comptroller General, DCG Sulaiman Bomoi, who was delighted to be the chief host of the event which was an historic reunion of all Public Relations Officers both retired and in- Service, stressed that the Conference is about bridging gaps and maintaining the thrust of the Public; managing the reputation of the Service in a complex and challenging environments.
DCG Bomoi enjoined all participants to use the opportunity to improve on PR practice and redefine it’s approach in the face of new era.
“The strength of NCS lies in the PR Units, professionalism and unwavering dedication to the Service and collectively we can set a new benchmark for the PR in the Service,” he said.
On his part, the President of the National Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Ike Neliaku, lauded the Comptroller General of Customs for setting the pace with the initiative of a three day conference on capacity building for relevant members and for showing that Public Relations is life with the essential elements of Communications he deployed since he assumed the helmsman of the Service in 2023.
The event which was fully supported by the Trade Modernization Project (TMP) under the Managing Director, Zainab Umar-Ajijola was graced by prominent PR personnel of the Service, other security agencies and other notable stakeholders.
