Nigeria Customs, Image Merchants Bag PR Golden World Awards in Belgrade

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) received the Golden World Award for Crisis Management from the International Public Relations Association (IPRA) during a gala at the Metropol Palace Hotel in Belgrade, Serbia, on 15 October, 2024.

The award recognizes the visionary leadership of the NCS Comptroller General, CGC Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, whose use of public relations tools in the first 100 days of his tenure enhanced awareness and citizen compliance to customs reforms.

In collaboration with Image Merchants Promotion Limited (IMPR), the NCS launched a comprehensive strategy that garnered widespread praise and strengthened partnerships with stakeholders, boosting border security and revenue generation.

As a testament to its vital role in the campaign, Image Merchants, known for publishing influential platforms such as PRNigeria and Economic Confidential, was recognized as the PR Agency of the Year (Crisis Management).

The plaques, which were presented by IPRA President Nataša Pavlović Bujas, marked another significant achievement for Nigerian professionals on an international stage.

IPRA Secretary General Philip Sheppard commended Adeniyi’s transformative management and highlighted its crucial impact on the success of the campaign.

“In just 100 days, Adeniyi’s campaign not only fortified stakeholder collaboration and improved border security but also catalyzed a substantial increase in revenue, instilling renewed hope and optimism for the future,” Sheppard remarked.

Prior to his appointment as the Customs CG, Adeniyi served as NCS’s longest-tenured spokesperson and held the positions of Vice President and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR).

IMPR CEO Yushau A. Shuaib said, “We are thrilled that outstanding campaigns, which have made a positive impact, have been recognized on this global stage. We prioritize professionalism and remain committed to supporting our clients with excellent PR service delivery.”

Apart from NCS and IMPR, KFC South Africa was the only other African winner at the 2024 Golden World Awards, which featured entries from countries, including Germany, Italy, Japan, China, India, Austria, the United Arab Emirates, Poland, Bulgaria, Singapore, Greece, Serbia, etc.

The IPRA, founded in 1955, is the premier global network for PR professionals with a mission to advance trusted communication and ethical practices.

The annual Golden World Awards (GWA) was established in 1990 to celebrate PR excellence across various categories.