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The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) has conferred its prestigious Fellowship on the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Bashir Adewale Adeniyi MFR, marking a historic first as the institution honours one of its own alumni with its highest distinction.
The conferment, which received the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, not only underscores Adeniyi’s rise from a 1989 graduate of the institute to the pinnacle of public service, but also signals a renewed push to strengthen journalism training through institutional support and strategic partnerships.
Chairman of the NIJ Governing Council, Olusegun Osoba CFR, described the development as a defining moment in the institute’s history, noting that Adeniyi’s professional journey exemplifies diligence, discipline, and sustained excellence.
He added that the last recipient of the NIJ Fellowship was Kessington Adebutu, popularly known as ‘Baba Ijebu,’ who was recognised for his philanthropic contributions.
In his remarks, the NIJ Provost, Mr. Gbenga Adefaye, praised Adeniyi for striking a commendable balance between enforcement and trade facilitation, attributing the feat to the deployment of technology and continuous engagement with industry stakeholders.
Speaking at the special convocation ceremony, Adeniyi expressed profound gratitude, describing the honour as a “full circle moment” nearly four decades after his time at the institute. He noted that the values instilled in him at NIJ, particularly professionalism and ethical conduct that have remained central to his career in public service.
Addressing students, he urged them to remain focused and resilient, emphasizing that “the distance between the platform and the podium is shorter than you think,” as he encouraged them to stay committed to their goals.
In a major highlight, Adeniyi announced a personal commitment to construct a two-storey Multimedia Resource Centre for the institute. The facility, he said, will feature modern training infrastructure, a befitting studio for the NIJ Community Radio, and a transmitter to support its licensing.
The Customs boss stated that the decision to construct the facility is driven by the institute’s NEEDS assessment and is expected to significantly enhance practical training and position the NIJ as a hub for multimedia journalism and communication excellence.
