By ZAKAA LAZARUS
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has been conferred with a Fellowship Award by the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, marking a significant recognition of his professional achievements and contributions to national development.
The conferment took place during a special convocation ceremony held on Wednesday, 15 April 2026, where the CGC noted that it holds personal and professional significance.
“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”, he stated.
Highlighting the broader significance of the award, Adeniyi said the recognition extends beyond his person to the Nigeria Customs Service as an institution. “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.”
As part of his commitment to the institute, the CGC announced plans to support the establishment of a modern multimedia and resource centre to enhance practical training for students.
“So we would be working with the school after the conduct of needs assessment to put up a building, a two-story building that would be a multimedia and resource centre. So we’ll be having a radio station, editing suites, production suites, we’ll be having a place where they can integrate all the major components of multimedia, audio, video, animation, text, images, and all of that”, he said.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Governing Council, Olusegun Osoba, described the event as historic, revealing that the conferment was approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
He noted that the CGC is the first alumnus of the institute to receive the fellowship, adding that the honour is reserved for individuals with outstanding achievements in their fields. “He graduated from here and has been a shining example of an ex-student of this institute in his area of endeavour.”
Similarly, the Provost of the institute, Gbenga Adefaye, said the award reflects the enduring values of the institution, including discipline, ethical responsibility, and intellectual rigour.
He added that the CGC’s career demonstrates how these values can translate into impactful leadership beyond journalism.
