CGC Adeniyi Receives ‘Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024 Award’, Pledges to Sustain Reform Momentum
The Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC), Adewale Adeniyi, has been honoured with the “Iconic Maritime Personality of the Year 2024” Award, in recognition of his transformative leadership and commitment to trade facilitation.
The award was conferred by the Nigerian Maritime Journalists (NMJ) during a prestigious ceremony held on Thursday, 13 February 2025.
In his acceptance speech, CGC Adeniyi expressed optimism about sustaining the positive strides achieved in 2024, despite prevailing challenges.
He reaffirmed the Nigeria Customs Service’s (NCS) dedication to fostering an environment that enhances trade efficiency while ensuring effective policy implementation.
“Gradually, we are beginning to restore some sanity in the environment of policy formation and in the area of implementation where we play a significant role. In 2025, we will continue in the same trajectory of ensuring that duty collection is done in an environment where there is ease in trade facilitation,” Adeniyi stated.
The CGC also extended heartfelt appreciation to maritime journalists for recognising his contributions to the sector, describing the award as a unifying force for professionals within maritime journalism.
“The symbolism of this award is that we have something that serves as a rallying point for all associations in the maritime journalism industry,” he remarked.
Calling for greater collaboration among maritime journalists and freight forwarders, Adeniyi emphasised the importance of professional development within the industry.
He urged journalists to participate in training programmes that would enhance their expertise and strengthen their association.
Chairman of the Award Planning Committee, Dele Aderibigbe, noted that Adeniyi’s selection was a unanimous decision by all maritime journalists, underscoring his significant contributions to the industry.
“This is the first time in the sub-sector everyone will come together to honour a deserving performer per excellence who has made the NCS and Nigeria proud by his purposeful, professional, and patriotic leadership,” Aderibigbe stated.
The event reinforced CGC Adeniyi’s status as one of the key drivers of maritime reforms, with stakeholders hopeful that his leadership at the NCS will continue to foster growth and set a benchmark for innovation in the sector.
