The Comptroller-General of Customs, Mr. Adewale Adeniyi, has urged young officers of the Service to embrace innovation, discipline, and resilience as they advance in their careers, stressing that the Service’s future depends on their commitment to excellence.
The Customs boss gave the charge on Friday at the graduation ceremony of 50 students of Junior Course 22 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada.
The event marked another milestone in the college’s mission to groom officers for higher responsibilities.
Adeniyi, who was represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, DCG Greg Itotoh, congratulated the graduates and said their success resulted from hard work, resilience, and zeal to maintain the high level of discipline demanded by the institution.
He urged the officers not to rest on their laurels but to apply the lessons learnt to practical outcomes in their daily assignments.
He said: “We can forget the harsh corrections, the restrictions, and the pain of training, but let us never forget the lessons learnt.
“As you return to your units, face the unknown with courage and determination, because as Customs officers, our duties are laced with challenges.”
Adeniyi further reminded the officers that under his leadership, the Service prioritises innovation, and he encouraged them to take on tasks that improve efficiency and strengthen the Service’s global standing.
The Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs Oluyomi Adebakin, described the occasion as “a unique day” for the institution, noting that the graduating officers had endured rigorous training focused on leadership, discipline, and professional development.
The Junior Course was designed to prepare young officers for the growing service demands in a complex and evolving operational environment.
According to her, this cohort has invested significant mental, emotional, and physical effort, and their dedication has paid off.
She added that, beyond academics, the course incorporated health checks, physical exercises, and activities that tested punctuality, teamwork, and conduct, all of which aimed to produce well-rounded officers.
At the event, outstanding participants were given awards in leadership, discipline, marksmanship, and academic excellence categories, underscoring the training’s overall impact.
All 50 graduating students were also presented with certificates, signifying their successful course completion.
The commandant urged them to serve as “good ambassadors” of the college as they returned to their commands.
