The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) has congratulated the Comptroller-General of Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, fnipr on his election as the Chairperson of World Customs Organisation (WCO), noting that Adeniyi’s elevation Confirms Public Relations as a Leadership Function.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by NIPR’s Director, Public Relations, Mr. Stanley Ogadigo.
World Customs Organisation (WCO) is an intergovernmental organisation which serves as the highest decision-making body in global customs with its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.
According to the statement: “Adeniyi, the Immediate Past Vice President of NIPR was elected at the concluding session of the 145th/146th WCO Council Meeting held on Saturday, 28th June 2025 in Brussels, becoming the first Nigerian to hold the exalted position”.
The President, Chairman of Council of NIPR, Dr. Ike Neliaku in a congratulatory letter lauded Adeniyi’s elevation to the top leadership of WCO, describing it as: (an evidence of visible value that public relations offers in advancing the frontiers of excellence in leadership and governance across sectors’.
He stressed that members of NIPR at leadership positions are placing the country on the map of honour at the global stage through deployment of Public Relations strategies in solving organisational issues and challenges.
“As a professional body, the NIPR is deeply delighted with your election as the Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation, making history as the first Nigerian to occupy such influential position since its creation with 185 member states. This highlights the role of strategic communication in raising the bar of excellence in leadership and a clear indication that Public Relations has become a leadership function”, he said.
Dr. Neliaku expressed optimism that Adeniyi’s tenure will introduce innovations that will bring about transformative reforms in the global customs administration, especially in effectively communicating activities of WCO to the global community.
It could be recalled that the Comptroller-General of Customs was recently appointed as Vice Chairman, Advisory Board of the Nigeria Reputation Management Group (NRMG), an initiative of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).
