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L-R: Team Lead, Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), Fidelity Bank Plc, Victoria Abuka; Assistant General Manager, Heritage Homes Orphanage, Irene Light; and President, Audacious Inductees Class of 2026, Fidelity Bank Plc, Aanuoluwa Akinyemi; during the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP) Outreach at Heritage Homes Orphanage, Anthony, Lagos recently. Leading financial institution, Fidelity Bank Plc, has reaffirmed its commitment to health and social welfare through a comprehensive intervention at Heritage Homes Orphanage in Anthony Village, Lagos. The initiative was executed under the Fidelity Helping Hands Programme (FHHP), Fidelity Bank’s flagship employee-led corporate social responsibility scheme which empowers staff to identify impactful community projects, raise funds towards their execution, and receive matching support from the Bank to execute the projects. The outreach was championed by the Bank’s Audacious Class of newly inducted employees and it addressed critical need...

Union Bank of Nigeria, in furtherance to its commitment  in building a cleaner and more sustainable environment,  organised a beach cleanup in partnership with the Nigerian Conservation Foundation (NCF) at Alpha Community Beach, Lekki, Lagos, on July 3, 2026. Nigeria currently generates an estimated 2.5 million tonnes of plastic waste annually, with Lagos alone accounting for approximately 870,000 tonnes of that figure. More than 88 per cent of this waste is never recycled, and a significant proportion finds its way into rivers, lagoons, and the ocean, posing grave consequences for marine biodiversity and coastal communities. It is against this backdrop, and in direct alignment with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals on Responsible Consumption and Production (SDG 12) and Life Below Water (SDG 14), that Union Bank organised this exercise. The cleanup was held to mark the Bank's 2026 Employee Volunteer Day under its Employee Volunteering initiative, powered by Unio...

The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) has honoured the Public Relations Officer of TinCan Island Port Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Chief Superintendent of Customs (CSC) Oscar Enya Ivara, with its Customs Commands' Best Public Relations Officer Award in recognition of his outstanding contributions to strategic communication and stakeholder engagement. The award was presented during CONMMEP's Annual Lecture and 5th Anniversary Celebration, held on June 25 and 26, 2026, in Ikeja, Lagos, where distinguished personalities in the maritime industry were recognised for exceptional performance and leadership ingenuity. Established in 2021, CONMMEP marked five years of promoting professionalism, advocacy and constructive engagement within Nigeria's maritime sector. Presenting the award, the association cited Ivara's sustained excellence in public communication, transparency and media relations, describing him as one of the most respo...

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) and the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) have reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening inter-agency collaboration in strategic communication, public engagement, and information sharing. The engagement occurred following a courtesy visit by the Force Public Relations Officer, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Anietie Okokon, to the National Public Relations Officer of the NCS, Deputy Comptroller (DC) of Customs, Abdullahi Maiwada, on Monday, 13 July 2026, at the Service Headquarters, Maitama, Abuja. The visit, which formed part of the Force PRO's familiarisation tour following his assumption of office, provided an opportunity for both institutions to deepen their longstanding relationship and explore avenues for enhanced cooperation in support of national security and effective institutional communication.  The engagement also coincided with the induction ceremony of 70 officers and men of the NCS Public Relations Unit into the Nigeria Institute of...

The Congress of Nigerian Maritime Media Practitioners (CONMMEP) has honoured the Coordinator of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operations Unit (FOU), Zone A, Comptroller Gambo Aliyu, with its 2026 Leadership Excellence Award for Outstanding Enforcement and Trade Facilitation. The award was presented during CONMMEP's Annual General Meeting, Lecture and Awards Ceremony in Ikeja, Lagos, where maritime journalists, regulators, policymakers and industry stakeholders gathered to examine the role of enforcement, trade and the media in advancing Nigeria's economic development. Speaking at the event, CONMMEP President Udo Onyeka said the recognition was in appreciation of Comptroller Aliyu's leadership, which has successfully combined robust anti-smuggling operations with measures aimed at facilitating legitimate trade and improving operational efficiency. According to him, the award reflects Aliyu's commitment to professionalism, transparency and intelligence-driven...

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, His Excellency Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, CON, has congratulated his former Chief of Staff and current Managing Director of the South West Development Commission (SWDC),  Dr Charles Akindiji Akinola, on the occasion of his 70th birthday, describing him as an outstanding public servant, accomplished development strategist and trusted ally whose contributions have left an enduring mark on governance and national development.  In a congratulatory message, Oyetola lauded Akinola's intellect, integrity and commitment to public service, noting that he had consistently demonstrated visionary leadership in every position he had occupied. He said Akinola's years of service as Chief of Staff during his administration as Governor of Osun State and later as Chief of Staff in the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, were characterised by diligence, strategic thinking and an uncommon ability to translate policy into measurable results. The minist...

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, has intensified its campaign against stowaways by taking public awareness to grassroot communities. At Snake Island, Lagos, the Agency engaged community leaders, youths and residents on the dangers and consequences of stowing away on vessels. Residents commended NIMASA for the enlightenment campaign, describing it as timely and impactful. Head of International Ships and Ports Security ISPS, Unit, Mr. Mudi Isa, who led the NIMASA team emphasised that stowaway incidents damages Nigeria’s reputation in the global maritime community he reaffirmed NIMASA’s commitment to preventive awareness through community engagement.

Dr. Taiwo Afolabi Sifax Chairman  The 10th edition of the Taiwo Afolabi Annual Maritime Conference is building momentum as the Maritime Forum, University of Lagos, in partnership with SIFAX Group, prepare to host what has become West Africa’s largest student-led maritime conference which brings   together more than 2,000 participants from government, academia, maritime industry, corporate organisations and the media. Over the last decade, SIFAX Group has remained the conference’s strongest supporter, helping to transform the conference into a leading platform for youth engagement, industry collaboration and maritime capacity development. Scheduled to hold on July 20th –21st, 2026, the conference will commemorate a decade of advancing maritime education, policy discourse and youth leadership under the theme, “ Ten Tides of Impact: Raising a Generation to Position Nigeria as Africa’s Blue Giant". The conference will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions and polic...

A new thought-leadership podcast, Policy Without Politics, has launched to deepen public understanding of the policies shaping economies, businesses, markets and everyday life. Hosted by Mustafa Chike-Obi and Dr. Ken Ikpe, the weekly podcast is available on YouTube and invites viewers to subscribe for rigorous, non-partisan conversations on governance, public policy, development and the business environment. Positioned as a platform for clear thinking without partisan noise, Policy Without Politics connects decisions made in capitals to their impact on companies, markets, citizens and communities, with global relevance grounded in an African context. Each episode explores the forces shaping trade, fiscal and monetary decisions, regulation, investment and development. Speaking on the vision behind the podcast, Dr. Ken Ikpe said: “Policy touches every life, every business and every economy. Our goal is to make these conversations accessible, practical and useful, so that more people ca...

In a significant move to strengthen strategic communication and professionalise its Public Relations workforce, the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) on Monday, 13 July 2026, inducted seventy Public Relations officers of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), marking the Service's first mass induction into the Institute since 2013.  The ceremony, held at the Customs Headquarters in Abuja, reflects the Service's commitment to building a corps of certified communication professionals equipped to effectively project its reforms, operations and institutional achievements. Addressing the newly inducted officers, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, PhD, MFR, according to a press release issured by the National Public Relations Officer NPRO, Deputy Comptroller Abdullahi Maiwada described the induction as a strategic investment in the future of the Service's communication architecture. He noted that the Service's transformation, including its recognitio...