By Uloma Peace Okorie
The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, PhD, was honored with the Lifetime Achievement in Customs Administration Award at the 10th Anniversary Edition of the Nigeria Most Influential Awards held on Saturday, 22 August 2026, at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja.
The glamorous event, themed to mark a decade of celebrating excellence, brought together government officials, traditional rulers, business leaders, and diplomats to recognize individuals who have made significant impact across Nigeria.
A Night of Celebration
Guests were welcomed with cultural displays as they arrived at the Congress Hall of the Transcorp Hilton. Dancers in white traditional attire performed at the entrance, setting the tone for an evening that blended culture, service, and leadership.
Inside the packed banquet hall, CGC Adeniyi, dressed in a light grey suit, mingled with dignitaries before taking his seat at the high table. The atmosphere was charged with music, performances, and goodwill messages.
The Honour
Presenting the award, organizers cited Adeniyi’s transformative leadership at the Nigeria Customs Service, highlighting his strides in trade facilitation, border security, and revenue generation for the country.
On receiving the plaque and trophy, the CGC expressed gratitude and dedicated the honour to officers and men of the Service.
“This award will ginger us, motivate us and give us the inspiration to do much, much better,” Adeniyi said. “We remain committed to making Nigeria’s borders secure, trade seamless, and revenue collection more efficient for national development.”
He also congratulated other awardees, describing the NMIA platform as one that “recognizes service and encourages more people to give their best to the nation.”
Recognition of Service
The award plaque read: “NIGERIA MOST INFLUENTIAL AWARDS 2026 COMPTROLLER GENERAL OF NIGERIA CUSTOMS SERVICE BASHIR ADEWALE, PhD.”
Speaking to journalists after the ceremony, Adeniyi reiterated the Service’s focus on leveraging technology and inter-agency collaboration to combat smuggling and facilitate legitimate trade.
The event featured musical performances, cultural troupes, and the presentation of awards to other distinguished Nigerians across sectors.
The 10th edition of the Nigeria Most Influential Awards was produced by the NCS Public Relations Unit in partnership with NMIA organizers.