By Societal Concerns Report
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, has pledged to donate a two-storey building to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism to house a state-of-the-art multimedia resource centre.
Adeniyi made the commitment during his special convocation ceremony at NIJ, where he was conferred with a Fellowship award. He noted that construction of the facility would commence as soon as all necessary approvals are secured.
Reflecting on his academic journey, the Customs boss disclosed that he obtained a postgraduate certificate in Basic Public Relations from NIJ in 1989 before advancing to the Università della Svizzera italiana, where he earned a Master’s degree.
He explained that the decision to establish the multimedia centre was informed by an e-assessment jointly conducted by the institution, aimed at positioning NIJ as a leading 21st-century journalism and communications institute. He also recalled his visit to the school last year, where he delivered a lecture on artificial intelligence and its impact on modern journalism.
According to Adeniyi, the proposed facility will provide students with a rich, immersive learning environment that integrates various storytelling elements.
“It will be designed to give our students a rich immersive experience that teaches them the craft of incorporating the full range of storytelling elements—texts, images, and animations—into their work,” he said.
He added that the building would house studios, modern classrooms, offices, and academic staff rooms, significantly enhancing the institution’s training capacity.
In a related development, Adeniyi emphasized the need to upgrade the NIJ Community Radio from an online platform to a terrestrial station. He revealed plans to install a transformer to support full broadcast operations, enabling the station to serve surrounding communities more effectively.
The CGC described the initiative as part of the Nigeria Customs Service’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), stressing that the agency’s mandate extends beyond revenue generation and anti-smuggling operations.
“Customs does not only collect revenue or chase smugglers; it also contributes to the development of the communities and the country it serves,” he stated.
He further noted that the project aligns with efforts to bridge critical gaps in sectors of national importance, particularly in education and media development.
The proposed multimedia resource centre and radio expansion are expected to significantly boost practical training and community engagement at NIJ, reinforcing its role as a hub for media excellence in Nigeria.
