The Acting Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi (MFR), delivered a compelling address during his inaugural speech at the two-week Leadership and Management Development (LMD) Workshop for Senior Customs Officers. The workshop, organized by the World Customs Organisation (WCO), convened at the prestigious Wells Carlton Hotel in Asokoro, Abuja, on Monday, October 9, 2023.
Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Ibrahim Alfa represented the Acting Comptroller-General, emphasizing the critical role of Senior Customs Officers in safeguarding the nation’s borders and facilitating legitimate trade. Furthermore, their role extends to protecting societies from various threats in an ever-evolving global landscape.
The two-week Leadership and Management Development Workshop aims to enhance the skills and knowledge of Customs Officers, equipping them to address the complex and multifaceted challenges they may encounter as leaders while fulfilling their duties.
Adeniyi highlighted the significance of this training program as a significant step towards improving the Customs Service. He expressed optimism that under the guidance of WCO’s technical and operational experts from Finland and Uganda, along with experts from the Secretariats, participating Officers would have an extraordinary opportunity to learn from the best in the field.
Acting CGC emphasized the importance of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the field of Customs administration with the WCO. He conveyed the profound gratitude of the Nigeria Customs Service to the WCO for their unwavering commitment to supporting the development of Customs administration worldwide, and particularly for choosing to assist Nigeria Customs Service.
Regarding the workshop’s impact, Adeniyi noted that it promises to enhance the Officers’ capabilities in leadership and management, emphasizing that leadership transcends titles and positions, encapsulating a mindset that inspires and motivates others towards a common goal.
The Acting Comptroller-General encouraged the Officers to actively participate, engage in insightful discussions, share experiences, ask questions, and contribute to the collective knowledge they would be building over the course of the workshop.
Mika Poutiainen, a leadership, management, and development expert, outlined the intensity of the workshop, featuring approximately 50 different exercises. These exercises range from individual tasks to pair work and table-based exercises. Additionally, some exercises will be conducted in a “tops-barriers” format. Poutiainen revealed that 30 percent of the LMD Workshop focuses on theory, while 70 percent emphasizes practical application, highlighting its transformative potential for the Officers and the entire Nigeria Customs Service.
When queried about their expectations during and after the workshop, Comptroller Suleiman Chiroma expressed his anticipation of gaining deeper insights into management skills and leadership principles, believing that this knowledge would significantly impact his work at the NCS and shape his future career.
The Leadership and Management Development Workshop, under the guidance of the Acting Comptroller-General and the expertise of the WCO, stands poised to usher in a new era of leadership and border protection for the Nigeria Customs Service. The Officers’ commitment to this initiative ensures the service’s continued dedication to safeguarding the nation and promoting legitimate trade in a rapidly changing global landscape.
