NIGERIAN INSTITUTE OF JOURNALISM CELEBRATES CG ADENIYI WITH FELLOWSHIP AWARD; GETS MOUTH-WATERING MULTI-MILLION NAIRA MULTI-MEDIA CENTRE
It was home coming for the Customs Comptroller General, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, who was conferred with the fellowship of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) in Lagos.
The special convocation was graced by friends and associates of the Customs boss , as well as his lieutenants. The event which was said to have been approved by President Tinubu, according to the Chairman of the governing council of the Institution, Aremo Olusegun Osoba,witnessed eulogies for the awardee, while he pledged to build a multi-media centre for the Institute.
Adeniyi stated that the effort was to give the students the opportunity of practicing the 21st century journalism as well as be at par with their colleagues in other developed climes. Saying the multimedia centre would have two floors and that the project would take off ‘as soon as we get the right approval’ based on the NEEDS assessment.
‘This project will help to equip students with the required skills for a 21st century profession’
The Customs boss also stated that the NIJ community radio has to transition from online to a dedicated space for a radio station.
Not done yet, Adeniyi disclosed that an appropriate transformer for terrestrial operations will be procured with operating licensed radio serving the communities. According to him, ‘this is a broader corporate social responsibility (CSR) backed by president Tinubu’
He noted that this is a deliberate effort aimed at providing quality education as well as capacity for the centre of journalism excellence. He urged the students to endeavour to invest in themselves, as according to him, the education he acquired at the NIJ way back in 1989 has assisted him in work outlook in the past decades.
He pointed out that when the centre fully come on board, it will be able to have modern facilities for imaging, video and animation, production and editing departments with studios and lounges for the academic staff.
He said he would pool his friends and associates to undertake this project. Though, he said he had only a six-month basic public relations course in the Institute back in 1989, ‘this institution planted in me a set of values for the past forty years’ ‘With this honour today, the NIJ is saying the investment is not wasted’
In the spirit of this honour, he promised not to let the Institution down. The event was graced by the oldest journalist in Nigeria and publisher of Vanguard Newspaper, Sam Pemu and a retinue of senior customs officers.
They are led by the Deputy Comptroller General Tim Bomodi and the ACG(HQ) Muhammed Shuaibu.
Others are ACG Babandede, Comptrollers Frank Onyeka, Emmanuel Oshoba, Otunla, AKINGBADE, Abubakar and Nmadu, Aliyu Gambo and Kaila. Others are Area controllers of Ogun 1, Oyo/Osun, KLT, Deputy Comptrollers Afeni, Adewole and Adigun.
BASHIR ADEWALE ADENIYI:THE SILENT REFORMER
Bashir Adewale Adeniyi is the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Council Chair of the World Customs Organisation (WC). Born on 19 January 1966, he hails from Modakeke, Ife East Local Government Area of Osun State, Nigeria. He graduated in 1987 from the University of lfe, Ile-Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University) with a Bachelor of Science degree in International Relations. He also had a Post-Graduate certificate in Basic Public Relations at the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Ogba, Lagos in 1989. He later obtained a Master of Communication Science degree from the Universita della Svizzera Italiana (USI), Lugano, Switzerland, in 2013, and a Doctorate Degree
in Leadership and Security Studies from the Federal University of Lokoja in August 2025,
He was enlisted into the Nigeria Customs Service as a Cadet Officer in 1990. Since then, he has served with distinction across various commands and capacities, including:
Customs Public Relations Officer; Customs Area Controller, Murtala Mohammed International Airport Command, Lagos; Commandant, Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College (NCCSC), Gwagwalada, Abuja; Deputy Comptroller-General in charge of the Strategic Research and Policy Department.
He was appointed the Comptroller-General of Customs in 2023 by His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR.
A seasoned and thorough-bred Customs officer, Dr. Adeniyi has attended numerous national and international courses, including:
Strategic Leadership and Management Development, World Customs
Organisation, Brussels (2016);
ii. Mastering Trade Policy, Harvard University (2015);
ii. Strategic and Crisis Communication, University of California, Los Angeles (2012);
iv. Transformation Initiative Leadership Training, Toronto, Canada (2012);
V. Strategic Communication, Columbia University, New York (2009).
On the international stage, he has served as WCO Vice-Chair for the West and Central Africa Region and currently serves as Chairperson of the WCO Council. He has represented Nigeria and the Service in various high-level international engagements, including the WCO Council Meetings, Policy Commission Sessions, and Directors-General of Customs Conferences. Over the years, the CGC’s dedication, integrity, and professionalism have earned him numerous honours and commendations.