By Sabiu Abdullahi
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has received the prestigious Golden World Award (GWA) for Crisis Communication from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA), which recognised its outstanding public relations efforts.
The award was presented at a grand ceremony on October 18, 2024, at the Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, to Comptroller-General of Customs Bashir Adewale Adeniyi.
The award honours the NCS’s “100 Days of Impactful PR at Customs Service” campaign, which effectively addressed critical challenges during Adeniyi’s first 100 days in office.
“The campaign was about crisis communication,” Adeniyi said.
“The entry submitted during this period was recognised as the best, from the perspective of addressing the campaign’s challenges, its impact, and the positive outcomes we have seen”.
The campaign excelled in the Crisis Management category, demonstrating the NCS’s ability to navigate operational difficulties, foster vital stakeholder collaboration, enhance border security, and drive significant revenue growth.
Philip Sheppard, IPRA Secretary-General, praised Adeniyi’s leadership, noting that it significantly improved border security and revenue generation, instilling optimism within the organisation.
Established in 1990, the Golden World Awards celebrate excellence in public relations across various categories.
This recognition underscores the NCS’s commitment to aligning its activities with international communication and governance standards.
By leveraging strategic public relations, the NCS has promoted customs reforms, national security, and economic development.