By George Ozalla
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has emphasised the need for a more strategic and mentorship-driven approach to public relations practice, stressing that effective communication must go beyond sharing information to developing future leaders capable of sustaining public trust.
The message was delivered by the National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service and Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, during the second day of the NCS Public Relations Conference held in Port Harcourt on Thursday, July 23, 2026.
The conference brought together public relations practitioners, academics, communication experts and students in a deliberate effort to bridge the gap between academic learning and professional practice.
The second-day session, which focused on strengthening the relationship between communication institutions and industry practitioners, featured students and scholars from Rivers State University, University of Port Harcourt, Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, Port Harcourt and Captain Elechi Amadi Polytechnic, Port Harcourt.
The engagement provided participants with an opportunity to interact with experienced professionals and gain practical insights into the realities of modern public relations, including stakeholder engagement, reputation management, crisis communication and digital media strategy.
The panel discussion, which was moderated by Amina Yuguda, Head of Station, Nigeria Customs Service Broadcasting Network, featured Chief Superintendent of Customs, Luqman Abdullahi-Lagos and Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Folusho Adeogun.
Speaking during the session, Maiwada said public relations professionals have a responsibility that extends beyond information management, noting that mentorship remains critical to building competent communicators and future leaders.
“Effective public relations must extend beyond information dissemination to mentoring future leaders built on character, competence, and clarity,” he stated.
He urged young officers and students pursuing careers in public relations to develop strong professional values, identifying character, competence, clarity, consistency and cost-consciousness as important qualities for career growth and effective service.
Maiwada noted that experienced practitioners must deliberately create opportunities to transfer knowledge, ethical standards and practical skills to younger professionals, especially at a time when the communication environment continues to change rapidly.
The conference also featured practical masterclasses where senior Customs officers shared experiences from ongoing reforms within the Service, using them as real-world learning tools for participants.
Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Usman Idris, highlighted how strategic stakeholder engagement and media campaigns contributed to the successful rollout of the B’Odogwu Unified Customs Management System.
He explained that beyond the technical introduction of the platform, effective communication played a key role in helping stakeholders understand the objectives of the reform and its expected benefits.
Idris stressed the importance of maintaining regular engagement with stakeholders during major institutional changes, noting that public understanding and acceptance are essential to the success of any reform initiative.
Similarly, Assistant Superintendent of Customs I, Joseph Adejoh, shared lessons from the implementation of the Advanced Ruling System and the One-Stop Shop initiative.
He emphasised the importance of transparency, early engagement and consistent communication in ensuring that stakeholders are properly informed and confident about new policies and systems.
The NCS Headquarters Social Media Team also took participants through practical sessions on digital communication tools, audience analytics, content management and online reputation monitoring.
The training exposed participants to the changing role of digital platforms in shaping public perception and maintaining effective communication between institutions and their audiences.
The organisers said the conference was part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s effort to strengthen professional capacity among its public relations personnel while encouraging stronger engagement with communication institutions.
They added that exposing students and young practitioners to practical experiences from ongoing Customs operations would help them better understand the demands of modern public relations practice and the importance of strategic communication in public institutions.
