Well groomed senior staff of no fewer than 50 has graduated from the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College Gwagwalada, after undergoing rigorous training of Senior Course 8, which lasted for six months.
Addressing the graduands during the ceremony that took place on Wednesday 21st June 2023, at the Ahmed Makarfi Hall of the college, the Comptroller-General of Customs, represented by the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs Jack Ajokwu, felicitates with the graduating students and implored them to be more committed and be good representatives of the college.
DCG Jack Ajokwu, who is also in charge of Exise, Free-Trade Zone and Industrial Incentives, said that “it is with great honour and privilege to be part of this graduation ceremony of Senior Course 8 2023. It is without a doubt that you have spent six months having a rigorous training. I congratulate you for your tenacity and commitment which has led us to today’s occasion.”
“From the onset, you and your fellow participants were challenged by the curriculum and external class activities, but you have come out on top with a sense of fulfilment and admiration. I am seeing this as an opportunity to break new ground.” He said.
According to him, organising such training is one of the cardinal principles of the Nigeria Customs Service to build competence and capacity corresponding to rising demands of Global best practices of Customs related matters.
He tasked them to put all they have learned during their training at the college, as the country awaits their positive contributions in the area of maximizing the security at the borders, suppressing smuggling and generating revenue.
DCG Ajokwu however described their graduation as ‘timely with the commissioning of the Service’s Modernization Project’ – which according to him, competent hands amongst them will be selected to pilot the affairs of the Service.
“I have no doubts in my mind, that considering the quality of training you have received, you all will be good ambassadors of the College and the Service at large – and I wish to implore you to exhibit your competence to your subordinates, when you go back to your places of work.”
On his part, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Al-Bashir Hamisu, while delivering his opening remarks, congratulated the graduating students and conferred them with the title of Pass Senior Course (PSC).
“I stand here today with an uncommon joy and gratitude to welcome our special guest of honour and all our guests attending this ceremony.”
He recalled that the Service had, in 2017, institutionalized the Nigeria Customs Staff College to train the principal level staff of the Service, which according to him, had contributed enormously in the area of boosting capacity building of the officers.
“The graduation ceremony we are witnessing today is for 50 officers who satisfied the requirements of the five-star course PSC. During the course, our graduands achieved impressive results both in terms of academic performance, weapon handling and other activities.”
Certificates and Awards were also presented to the graduating students, and the best overall participant of the Senior Course 8.
