Maiwada Outlines Vision for 2026 Customs PR Conference, Targets Corporate Communication Excellence
The National Public Relations Officer of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Deputy Comptroller of Customs Abdullahi Maiwada, has outlined the Service’s vision for the 2026 Public Relations Conference, saying the annual gathering will focus on repositioning Public Relations as a strategic corporate communication function fully integrated into the operations and reforms of the Service.
Speaking on the evolution of the conference, Maiwada recalled that his first participation in a Customs Public Relations Conference was in 2013 in Asaba, Delta State, where the theme, “Teamwork: Necessity and Mechanism,” left a lasting impression on him.
He noted that the 2013 conference also marked the last Nigeria Customs Service sponsored mass induction of Public Relations officers into the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) until the recent induction of 70 officers in 2026.
According to him, the annual conference has remained a long-standing tradition that brings together Public Relations officers from across the Service for training, retreats, and strategic discussions on emerging communication challenges.
“We inherited this tradition from those who served before us, and we are only consolidating on the foundation they laid,” Maiwada said.
He explained that after assuming leadership of the Public Relations Unit, the Service organised its first conference under his watch in 2024, bringing together serving and former Public Relations officers to review past achievements, assess present realities, and chart a new course for the future.
Maiwada said the 2025 conference, held at Bayero University, Kano, marked a paradigm shift by bringing together academics and communication practitioners to bridge the gap between theory and practice.
He added that the programme featured mentorship sessions for communication students from universities in the region, as well as panel discussions that generated practical recommendations for strengthening strategic communication within the Service.
Looking ahead to the 2026 edition scheduled for Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the National PRO said the conference would focus on aligning Public Relations with Corporate Communication to ensure that every policy, innovation, and reform initiative of the Nigeria Customs Service is supported by an effective communication strategy.
He disclosed that the conference would feature renowned resource persons, professional retreats, interactive sessions, and an expanded mentorship programme for communication students from universities within and around Port Harcourt.
According to him, the event will also host the second phase of the “Bridging Theory and Practice” initiative, aimed at fostering stronger collaboration between academia and practitioners while producing communication professionals equipped with practical industry experience.
Maiwada further revealed that the Service would organise a media engagement with journalists in Rivers State ahead of the conference to strengthen relationships with the media and enhance public understanding of Customs activities.
He expressed optimism that the Comptroller General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, would attend the conference as the Special Guest of Honour at what he described as a historic and strategic gathering for Public Relations professionals in the Nigeria Customs Service.
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