The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has once again taken the spotlight on the global stage, clinching the Golden World Award (GWA) for Impactful Public Relations in Customs Management at the 2025 International Public Relations Association (IPRA) Golden World Awards Gala, held at the Mövenpick Hotel in Accra, Ghana.
The prestigious recognition, presented by IPRA President Nataša Pavlović Bujas, reaffirms the Service’s growing reputation for excellence in strategic communication and stakeholder engagement. The winning entry — a publication authored by Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR) — documents the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s innovative communication reforms and has since evolved into a reference framework for public relations scholarship in Nigeria.
A Model for Institutional Communication
According to Philip Sheppard, Secretary-General of IPRA, the publication offers practical lessons in communication leadership, drawn from real-life experiences within the Nigeria Customs Service. It highlights how transparent, proactive, and people-centered communication can drive organizational reform, strengthen credibility, and inspire public confidence.
Receiving the award on behalf of the Service, the National Public Relations Officer, Assistant Comptroller of Customs (AC) Abdullahi Maiwada, expressed deep gratitude to IPRA, noting that the honour validates the Service’s renewed commitment to professionalism and public trust.
“This award is a validation of the Nigeria Customs Service’s commitment to professionalism, transparency, and stakeholder engagement,” Maiwada said. “Under the leadership of the Comptroller-General, we have repositioned communication as a strategic tool for reform and trust-building.”
This is not the first time the Service has been recognized at the IPRA Gala. In 2024, the NCS received the Golden World Award for Crisis Communication in Belgrade, Serbia — an achievement that marked its emergence as a global model for institutional communication in the public sector. The back-to-back wins signify a growing consistency in the Service’s pursuit of excellence and innovation in public relations practice.
A Gathering of Global Communication Leaders
The 2025 IPRA Conference, themed “Global Realities and Innovative Communication,” brought together top communication experts and practitioners from around the world. Among the notable attendees were Dr. Ike Neliaku, President of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR); Arik Karani, President of the African Public Relations Association (APRA); and Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah, President of the Institute of Public Relations (IPR), Ghana.
Over the three-day event (1–3 October 2025), discussions focused on strengthening communication ethics, digital transformation, and the role of public relations in driving governance, development, and social impact.
President Mahama’s Call for Ethical Practice
At the closing session, the President of Ghana, H.E. John Dramani Mahama, urged communication professionals across Africa to maintain integrity and competence in their practice.
“As communicators, you hold the power to shape narratives and influence public trust,” Mahama said. “Our continent needs professionals who communicate with integrity, clarity, and purpose to support national development.”
In her remarks at the Gala Night, Ghana’s Vice President, H.E. Jane Nana, congratulated all the award recipients, commending their vital contributions to advancing global communication standards.
A Historic Moment for Africa
The highlight of the evening was the symbolic transition of leadership within IPRA, as Esther Amba Numaba Cobbah was inaugurated as the new President of the global body — making history as the first African to lead IPRA in its 70-year existence. Her emergence was celebrated as a defining moment for the continent’s communication professionals, marking Africa’s growing influence in shaping global PR standards.
Nigeria Customs as a Communication Powerhouse
For the Nigeria Customs Service, this latest global recognition reinforces its transformation under Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi’s leadership. Beyond revenue generation and trade facilitation, the Service is increasingly being recognised for institutional credibility, innovation, and strategic communication.
The IPRA award underscores a broader narrative — that when communication is purposeful, transparent, and people-driven, it becomes a catalyst for reform, trust, and national development.
In summary, the Nigeria Customs Service’s recognition at the 2025 IPRA Golden World Awards is more than a trophy; it is a testament to the transformative power of strategic communication in public institutions. As the Service continues to build bridges of trust with stakeholders, its story stands as a compelling case study in how effective communication can redefine governance and leadership in the 21st