Skip to main content

Nigeria’s Egwunyenga Re-elected Vice Chair of WCO Data Model Project Team

By Anne Ejuka



As Nigeria continues to show her prowess in the development of global customs data standards, Assistant Comptroller of Customs, Mary-Anne Egwunyenga, of Information and Communication Technology/Modernisation of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), has been re-elected as Vice Chairperson of the Data Model Project Team of the World Customs Organisation (WCO).


‎Her re-election, according to reports was announced on 6th March 2026 during the 74th Data Model Project Team (DMPT) Meeting held at the WCO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium. Egwunyenga, who was first elected to the position in 2023, secured the confidence of the technical body's members once again, underscoring her growing influence within the global customs data management community.

‎

‎The WCO Data Model Project Team is responsible for developing and maintaining the WCO Data Model. This global standard enables customs administrations and border regulatory agencies to harmonise trade data and facilitate seamless information exchange in international trade.

‎

‎Her re-election also reflects the increasing recognition of the technical expertise within the NCS in advancing customs modernisation and digital trade systems.

‎

‎Speaking shortly after the election, Egwunyenga expressed appreciation to members of the Project Team for the renewed confidence. “I am deeply honoured by the trust reposed in me by members of the Data Model Project Team. This responsibility provides another opportunity to contribute to the advancement of global data standards that support secure and efficient cross-border trade,” she said.


‎She noted that Nigeria has consistently aligned its customs operations with evolving global data standards. “Nigeria began implementing the WCO Data Model in 2013 with Versions 3.3 and 3.4. With the introduction of B’Odogwu, the Nigeria Customs Service has now migrated to the more advanced WCO Data Model Version 4.0, which enhances interoperability, improves data quality and supports more efficient trade processes,” she added.


‎Egwunyenga, who is currently serving at the TinCan Island command also highlighted the growing contribution of Nigeria Customs Officers to global capacity-building initiatives under the WCO framework.

‎

‎According to her, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Bukola Omoniyi is a WCO-accredited Single Window and Data Model Expert who has participated in several WCO technical missions to assist countries in implementing the WCO Data Model. She noted that through such missions, Nigerian experts have supported customs administrations in countries including Uganda, Ghana, Malawi, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Kazakhstan, Tunisia and The Gambia in adopting the WCO Data Model framework.

‎

‎She further noted that Nigeria currently has a pool of officers actively contributing to WCO Data Model development and implementation, including Assistant Comptroller of Customs Usman Abba as Business Process Modelling Focus Group, Assistant Comptroller of Customs Bukola Omoniyi as Data Modelling Focus Group and Assistant Comptroller of Customs Mary-Anne  Egwunyenga as WCO Data Modelling Project Team and Business Process Modelling Focus Group Lead.

‎

‎Commenting on the achievements of NCS in the WCO-DMPT, Comptroller Haladu Ubale, Nigeria Customs Attaché to the WCO in Brussels,bobserves that Nigeria’s continued representation in the leadership of the WCO-DMPT strengthens the country’s voice in shaping the technical standards that guide customs automation, digital border management, and global trade facilitation.

‎

‎The meeting brought together customs data experts and technical specialists from WCO member administrations to review developments in the WCO Data Model and discuss emerging digital trade requirements to improve cross-border data exchange and trade efficiency.


‎

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Eze Uchendu Applauds Compt. Olomu's Outstanding Performance In Apapa

By Anne Ejuka
  ...Berates APMT For Lack  of Capacity & Technicality ...Calls FG to Set Up Committee To Access APMT Operations In Nigeria The remarkable performance of the Customs Area Controller of the Apapa Customs command, Comptroller Babatunde Olomu fsi has been commended by a renowned freight forwarder, the Chairman of National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarder( NAGAFF), Apapa Chapter, Fowdr. Prince Eze Uchendu. Accessing the Apapa Command under the control of Compt. Olomu,  the  chairman applauded the resilience and doggedness of the area controller in all areas of operation, in his words, "I think for now we have a good controller, the person of controller, Babatunde Olomu, since his inception as the CAC Apapa, I can say Apapa Command has never had it so good, so I can score the Nigeria customs high In all fields of endeavour, the controller has been a moving controller,  he's not a controller that stays in office. He comes to the terminals ...
Post a Comment
Read more

KNIGHTS OF ST. JOHN (KSJI) TAKES A SWIPE AT BAD LEADERSHIPS IN NIGERIA

By Anne Ejuka
  Maj. Gen. (Prof) Remy Uche,  KSJI Supreme Subordinate President, Nigeria. As Christians all over the world marked  the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist on August 29 commemoration of his beheading by King Herod for speaking up to the truth, the Knights of St. John International (KSJI) of the Roman Catholic Church has taken a swipe against which it described as obnoxious and draconian leaderships in many spheres of life in Nigeria. The Knights of St. John International (KSJI), a sodality organisation of men and women looked up to in the Roman Catholic Church as people of integrity, is not happy with the current situation in the country where leaders in some places are not serving expectedly. According to a press statement made by the KSJI leader in Nigeria (Supreme Subordinate President), Maj Gen. Remy Uche (Prof), and signed on his behalf, by his Chief of Staff, Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, to mark the feast of the Passion of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint...
Post a Comment
Read more

NCS Medical Team Trains Apapa Area Command Officers On First Aid

By Anne Ejuka
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) medical team yesterday trained officers and men of the Apapa Area Command on basic first aid training. ‎ ‎The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Comptroller Emmanuel Oshoba according to a press release issued by the public relations officer of the command, Superintendent of Customs SC JT Ayagbalo described the initiative as a crucial investment in workplace safety and operational readiness. ‎ ‎In his welcome address, Comptroller Oshoba emphasized that the programme reflects the priority placed on staff welfare by the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR. ‎ ‎He described first aid knowledge as a universal life skill that every adult should possess, especially officers as they are frequently exposed to high-risk operational environments. ‎ ‎ Oshoba noted that simple but timely interventions such as; CPR, bleeding control, choking relief and stroke recognition often determine whether a victim survives, fully recov...
Post a Comment
Read more