The Comptroller General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, has applauded public relations practitioners in Nigeria for making valuable contributions to nation-building.
Adeniyi, who stated this at the 2024 Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) Public Relations Conference in Abuja, said public relations practitioners add value to society at every stage in life.
He attributed it to the innovation that its umbrella body, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), is putting in place to step up the profession’s relevance.
Adeniyi lauded the determination and commitment of NIPR’s current leadership for demonstrating unparalleled determination to leave a legacy of professionalism.
According to him, the public relations profession equips people with tools that aid their successes, adding that it helped him in achieving excellence within and outside office.
“The NIPR leadership has introduced a number of innovative initiatives that are very key in helping us to remain very relevant.
“Each time I look at myself as the head of Customs, I also look at the burden that I carry and being a PR professional, I cannot afford to keep my eyes off the ball,” he said.
Adeniyi emphasised that the NCS would continue to partner with the NIPR to deliver its various developmental initiatives.
Earlier in his goodwill message, NIPR President, Dr. Ike Neliaku, commended the NCS leadership for quality investment in its Public Relations department.
Neliaku, who is also the Chairman of NIPR Council, instituted a yearly Alex Akinyele Prize for Excellence for the best Public Relations Officer of the NCS.
He said that the decision was to recognise the contributions of the Nigeria Customs in the development of Public Relations profession in Nigeria.
He noted that the late Alex Akinyele, a former Minister of Information, who had worked with the NCS, was instrumental in giving the NIPR an enviable status in the Nigerian Constitution.
