CUSTOMS, YOUTHS DIGEST LEAD CHARGE IN COMMUNICATION REFORMS, TRAIN OVER 100 IN NEW MEDIA
Over 100 personnel of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) have been trained in New Media and Strategic Communication during a three-day hybrid workshop organized by Youths Digest, a youth-driven media and communications platform.
Held from May 7 to 9, 2025, the training focused on empowering Public Relations Officers of commands, editorial team members, reporters, youth corps members, interns, and other communication staff of the PR Unit across the country with cutting-edge tools in media innovation, crisis communication, fact-checking, visual storytelling, ethical communication, and public messaging.
Declaring the event open, Dr. Abdullahi Aliyu MaiwadaDr. Abdullahi Aliyu Maiwada, mnipr, Assistant Comptroller of Customs and National Public Relations Officer, emphasized that the NCS is taking bold steps to strengthen its relationship with the public through effective communication.
“The Customs Service is proud to have the youngest and most dynamic public relations unit in the entire public sector,” he stated. “Our commitment is to serve the Nigerian public with honesty and innovation. This training with Youths Digest helps us build that future.”
He further highlighted the agency’s dedication to staying ahead in communication excellence:
“We are committed to transparency and timely information dissemination,” he added.
On the final day of the training, Assistant Comptroller General in charge of Headquarters, ACG I.G. Umar, delivered the closing address, where he commended Youths Digest for the initiative and pledged the Service’s continued investment in communication capacity building.
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“We are proud of this collaboration with Youths Digest,” said ACG Umar. “This training is not just a box-ticking exercise—it’s part of our long-term strategy to enhance the quality of public service delivery and improve our relationship with Nigerians. Customs will continue to support initiatives that foster excellence in communication.”
The three-day hybrid workshop featured eight expert-led sessions and practical exercises facilitated by distinguished media and communication professionals. Danlami Nmodu (mni), Publisher of News Diary Online, taught participants how to craft compelling press releases. Yekeen Akinwale, Abuja Bureau Chief of The Cable, unpacked crisis communication strategies, while Isaac Nwokeocha, Founder of SparkTribe, immersed participants in the art of visual storytelling.
Furthermore, Prof. Abiodun Adeniyi, a renowned media ethics scholar and Registrar of Baze University, emphasized the critical balance between truth, responsibility, and development communication, while also conducting an in-depth scholarly review of the NCS in-house editorial style.
On Day Two, digital verification took center stage with Mohammed Dahiru Lawal of PRNigeria, who addressed the growing threat of misinformation. Other highlights included sessions by Uthman Samad of AFP on foundational communication skills, Kabir Abdulsalam on mastering social media tools, and Gidado Shuaib, Publisher of News Digest and Executive Director of Youths Digest, who broke down the essentials of impactful news writing.
Gidado Shuaib, also one of the facilitators, expressed gratitude to the Nigeria Customs Service for supporting the initiative and believing in the vision of empowering young communicators.
“Youths Digest remains committed to building media literacy and enhancing professional communication, especially within institutions that serve the public,” Shuaib stated. “We are honored by the Nigeria Customs Service’s trust and support, and we believe this training will leave a lasting impact on how the agency tells its story.”
The training combined physical attendance with online participation, ensuring inclusivity and nationwide access. Throughout the sessions, participants engaged in hands-on modules designed to meet the realities of 21st-century communication and public information management.
