The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has earned international recognition for its communication and stakeholder engagement, with Comptroller-General of Customs Adewale Adeniyi receiving a Special Award of Excellence at the 2026 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards in Athens, Greece, on September 25. The award acknowledges the Service's transparent communication, stakeholder engagement, and ethical public relations practices in support of its ongoing reforms. These reforms aim to modernize Customs operations, improve trade facilitation, and strengthen institutional transparency.
The award is an international endorsement of the NCS reform agenda, according to Adeniyi. He stated that it would encourage the Service to deepen its use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, in public communication and stakeholder engagement. The NCS has started using AI tools in public communication and views this recognition as an invitation to do more. By 2027, the Service hopes to feature prominently among global award recipients, along with other Nigerian agencies.
Effective communication is central to the success of government reforms, as citizens and stakeholders need to understand their objectives, implementation challenges, and expected benefits. Adeniyi emphasized that the NCS reform agenda aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's economic policies, which aim to boost Nigeria's trade competitiveness, facilitate exports, and strengthen the country's participation in the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).
The NCS is not the only Nigerian entity to receive recognition at the IPRA Golden World Awards. Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), publishers of PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, won the IPRA Grand Prix for its campaign "AI for Crisis Communication: From Study to Strategy." This campaign grew out of a research project led by IMPR's Chief Executive Officer, Yushau Shuaib, in collaboration with the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) and the Centre for Crisis Communication.
The IPRA Golden World Awards returned to Athens, Greece, where the association developed its Code of Conduct for public relations practice 60 years ago. IPRA President Esther Cobbah noted that the 2026 gathering offered an opportunity to celebrate individuals, agencies, and organizations that had upheld ethical communication while delivering excellence in their work. The event recognized the growing challenges of AI-driven misinformation, deepfakes, and digital information disorder.
The NCS has been actively engaging in various initiatives to promote its reform agenda. Recently, the Service seized 56 containers of prohibited goods and committed N70 billion to Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), targeting schools nationwide. These efforts demonstrate the Service's commitment to protecting local production and promoting economic growth.
The recognition received by the NCS and IMPR highlights Nigeria's growing footprint in international strategic communication. The awards demonstrate the country's ability to deliver excellence in public relations practice while upholding ethical communication. The NCS and other Nigerian agencies will likely continue to feature prominently in global award recipients in the future.
Key points
- The Nigeria Customs Service received the IPRA Golden World Award for its communication, stakeholder engagement, and reforms.
- The award recognizes the Service's use of emerging technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, in public communication and stakeholder engagement.
- The recognition highlights Nigeria's growing footprint in international strategic communication, with the country's agencies and organizations delivering excellence in public relations practice.
