By Nkechi Eze
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has been conferred with a Fellowship Award by the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), in recognition of his distinguished professional achievements and contributions to national development.
The honour was bestowed during a special convocation ceremony held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, where Adeniyi described the recognition as both a personal milestone and a testament to the enduring influence of the institution that helped shape his professional values.
Reflecting on his formative years at the institute, the Customs chief said the NIJ instilled in him principles that have guided his career trajectory.
“This institution planted in me a set of values that I did not fully understand at the time, but have lived by ever since: professionalism as a standard, not a performance; discipline as a habit, not an event; and continuous self-development as a personal obligation, not to an employer, not to a rank, but to oneself,” Adeniyi stated.
He emphasised that the recognition extends beyond his person, noting that it also reflects the collective efforts and dedication of officers and personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service.
“What it means for us is that while we render service to our country, some people somewhere are watching and our day of rewards can actually come like this,” he added.
In a major gesture of support for journalism education, Adeniyi announced plans to partner with the institute to establish a modern multimedia and resource centre aimed at strengthening practical training for students.
According to him, the proposed facility will integrate key components of contemporary multimedia journalism.
“So we would be working with the school after the conduct of needs assessment to put up a building, a two-storey building that would be a multimedia and resource centre. We will be having a radio station, editing suites, production suites, and a place where they can integrate all the major components of multimedia audio, video, animation, text, images, and all of that,” he explained.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Olusegun Osoba, described the ceremony as historic, revealing that the conferment of the fellowship received approval from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Osoba noted that Adeniyi is the first alumnus of the institute to receive the prestigious fellowship, adding that the honour is reserved for individuals who have distinguished themselves in their respective fields.
“He graduated from here and has been a shining example of an ex-student of this institute in his area of endeavour,” he said.
Also speaking, the Provost of the institute, Gbenga Adefaye, said the fellowship reflects the enduring values of the institution, including discipline, ethical responsibility, and intellectual rigour.
Adefaye noted that Adeniyi’s professional journey demonstrates how the foundational principles of journalism can translate into impactful leadership across sectors, describing his career as an inspiration to students and aspiring media professionals.
