The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening strategic communication by fostering closer collaboration between academia and industry, as public relations practitioners, scholars, and students converged on the second day of the Service’s Public Relations Conference in Port Harcourt.
The conference featured a joint panel session involving academics, communication professionals, and students from Rivers State University, the University of Port Harcourt, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt, and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt. The session focused on preparing aspiring public relations professionals for the realities of modern communication through practical mentorship and experiential learning.
The panel, comprising Chief Superintendent of Customs Luqman Abdullahi-Lagos and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Folusho Adeogun, was moderated by Amina Yuguda, Head of Station, Nigeria Customs Service Broadcasting Network. Discussions centred on equipping students with practical career insights, while advocating simulation exercises and role-play as essential tools for developing competencies required in contemporary public relations practice.
Speaking during the session, the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service, Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, stressed that effective public relations extends beyond information dissemination to building future leaders capable of sustaining institutional credibility and public trust.
He urged young officers and students to embrace character, competence, clarity, consistency, and cost-consciousness as the core values needed for professional growth.
“Effective public relations must extend beyond information dissemination to mentoring future leaders built on character, competence, and clarity,” Maiwada said.
Participants also took part in practical masterclasses where senior Customs officers shared insights from ongoing reforms within the Service. Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Usman Idris explained how strategic stakeholder engagement and targeted media campaigns supported the successful implementation of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
Similarly, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I Joseph Adejoh highlighted lessons from the rollout of the Advanced Ruling System and the One-Stop Shop initiative, noting that transparency and early stakeholder engagement were critical to their successful implementation.
The conference also featured a digital communication session led by the NCS Headquarters Social Media Team, which trained participants on the effective use of digital platforms, audience analytics, and proactive online reputation management.
Organisers said the mentorship-focused initiative reflects the Nigeria Customs Service’s broader commitment to developing a modern, adaptable, and future-ready public relations workforce capable of strengthening public confidence while supporting the Service’s ongoing institutional reforms.
