CG of Customs, Adeniyi Bags Maritime Media Iconic Award, Mulls for Stronger Ties among practitioners to Reap industry Potentials

CG of Customs, Adeniyi Bags Maritime Media Iconic Award, Mulls for Stronger Ties among practitioners to Reap industry Potentials

CG Adeniyi MRF during the rich Citation Reading by Dr Ovie Edomi at the event

The Nigeria Maritime Journalists have made history when the much touted and awaited award ceremony for the Comptroller General of the Nigeria Customs Service, NCS, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, was eventually held at the prestigious Lagos Airport Hotels, IKEJA on February 13th, 2025, having many industry bigwigs in attendance.                          

At the ceremony which was chaired by Prince Olayiwola Shittu, a revered customs broker,  Adeniyi was presented with the “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024” Award for his excellent service and achievements since his appointment to saddle the affairs of the service in 2023.        

 Industry Watchers were bewildered by the comportment of the organizers, the Nigerian Maritime Journalists (NMJ), an amalgamation of all the Maritime Journalists associations who spoke with one voice to pull the event through.

Customs CG Adeniyi displaying the ICONIC Maritime Media Award, while being surrounded by various Associations heads and Akeem Olarewaju, Pioneer Chairman, CRFFN

The CGC during the presentation of the award expressed his joy over the singular honour, especially coming from the plethora of media practitioners from different associations within the sector speaking with one voice to honour him.                   

The CGC after receiving the award was full of appreciation to maritime journalists for considering him for the honour. “The symbolism of this award is that we have something that serve as a rallying point for all associations in the maritime journalism industry.”

He called for unity among maritime journalists and freight forwarders in the nation’s shipping industry, while also encouraging maritime journalists to engage in training programs, among other proponents, that would make the association stand together and benefit more.

On the award, Adeniyi expressed optimism in maintaining the positive trajectory of 2024, despite the challenges that lie ahead.

“Gradually, we are beginning to restore some sanity in the environment of policy formation and in the area of implementation where we play a significant role. In 2025, we will continue in the same trajectory of ensuring that duty collection is done in an environment where there is ease in trade facilitation”, he stated.

Chairman of the Award Planning Committee, Dele Aderibigbe, described this as a unanimous decision by all maritime journalists. “This is the first time in the sub-sector everyone will come together to honour a deserving performer per excellence who has made the NCS and Nigeria proud by his purposeful, professional, and patriotic leadership.”