UI HONOURS CUSTOMS CG ADENIYI, SPOTLIGHTS ROLE OF CUSTOMS IN NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT
The University of Ibadan has honoured the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Dr. Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, following his delivery of a Distinguished Personality Lecture at the institution’s historic Trenchard Hall on Tuesday.
The lecture, titled “Why Customs Matters: Revenue, Security and Nationhood in a Borderless World,” was organised by the TETFund Centre of Excellence in Security Management (TECESM), University of Ibadan, and brought together professors, academics and members of the university community from various faculties and departments.
Adeniyi’s presentation examined the strategic importance of customs administration in national development, highlighting its growing relevance in an increasingly interconnected world shaped by cross-border trade, economic interdependence and emerging security challenges.
Beyond its traditional responsibility for revenue collection, the lecture underscored the critical role of customs administrations in securing national borders, facilitating legitimate trade, combating illicit activities and protecting the economic and security interests of their countries.
The Customs chief’s address also placed the work of the Nigeria Customs Service within the broader context of national development, security management and international economic cooperation, emphasising the significance of effective customs administration in advancing national interests.
The Director of TECESM, Professor P. A. Aluko, delivered the welcome address, while Professor Abel Idowu Olayinka, the 12th Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ibadan, chaired the occasion.
The Vice-Chancellor and Chief Host, Professor Kayode Oyebode Adebowale, commended Adeniyi’s professional accomplishments and contributions, particularly his record of achievement as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service.
The recognition further highlighted the importance of collaboration between academia and public institutions in promoting informed discussions on governance, economic policy and national security.
The event also reinforced the role of universities as platforms for intellectual engagement, where public officials and policymakers can share professional experiences, exchange ideas and examine practical responses to Nigeria’s development challenges.
As global commerce continues to evolve, the lecture highlighted the need for customs administrations to balance revenue generation with trade facilitation, border security and the protection of national interests.
Adeniyi’s engagement with the University of Ibadan community thus provided an opportunity to deepen understanding of the Nigeria Customs Service’s expanding responsibilities and its contribution to national development in a borderless world.
