…AS PRESIDENT MAHAMA URGES INTEGRITY AND PROFESSIONALISM IN COMMUNICATION PRACTICE
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again taken the global spotlight with another milestone achievement, clinching the Golden World Award (GWA) for Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management at the 2025 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Gala held on Friday, October 3, 2025, at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The honour, presented by IPRA President Nataša Pavlović Bujas, recognises the Nigeria Customs Service for excellence in communication leadership, stakeholder engagement, and reform-driven public relations under the guidance of the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR.
IPRA Commends Nigeria Customs’ Communication Model
According to Philip Sheppard, Secretary-General of IPRA, the award-winning entry — a publication authored by Image Merchants Promotion Limited — documents the progressive communication strategies of the Customs Service and their impact on institutional reform.
“The publication provides practical strategies that demonstrate how public relations leadership can drive transformation,” Sheppard said. “It showcases the Nigeria Customs Service as a global model for effective communication in public administration.”
Receiving the award on behalf of the Service, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, expressed gratitude to IPRA for the recognition, describing it as a validation of the Service’s reform-focused communication approach.
“This award is a testament to our unwavering commitment to professionalism, transparency, and proactive engagement,” Maiwada said. “Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, communication has become a strategic instrument for reform and public trust.”
Consecutive Global Recognition
The latest honour marks the second consecutive global win for the Nigeria Customs Service. In 2024, the Service received the Golden World Award for Crisis Communication at the IPRA Gala held in Belgrade, Serbia.
This year’s recognition builds on that success, reflecting the NCS’s consistent innovation in communication, reputation management, and institutional transparency — all central to its modernization agenda and public sector transformation drive.
A Gathering of Communication Leaders
The award presentation was a highlight of the Public Relations Knowledge Sharing Conference, held from October 1–3, 2025, at the Accra International Conference Centre. The event, themed “Global Realities and Innovative Communication,” convened leading communication experts from across Africa and beyond.
Notable attendees included Dr Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Arik Karani, President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA); Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana; and Nataša Pavlović Bujas, outgoing IPRA President.
Mahama Charges Practitioners on Ethics
Delivering the closing address, Ghana’s President, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, urged communication professionals to uphold ethics, integrity, and truth in their practice.
“As communicators, you hold the power to shape narratives and influence public trust,” President Mahama said. “Our continent needs professionals who communicate with clarity, purpose, and honesty to drive development and sustain democracy.”
Also speaking at the gala, Ghana’s Vice President, H.E. Jane Nana, congratulated all awardees for their role in advancing global communication practice and promoting responsible storytelling.
Historic Moment for Africa
The night concluded on a historic note as Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, President of IPR Ghana, was officially inaugurated as the new President of the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) — becoming the first African to lead the 70-year-old global organisation.
Her emergence, attendees observed, represents a major milestone for Africa’s communication community and a proud moment for practitioners committed to shaping the continent’s global image through innovation, professionalism, and strategic storytelling.
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