The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has marked another milestone in its capacity-building drive with the successful graduation of 50 officers from Junior Course 21 at the Nigeria Customs Command and Staff College, Gwagwalada, Abuja.
The graduation ceremony, held over the weekend, witnessed a blend of pride and solemnity as the officers concluded months of intensive academic and operational training. The Junior Course is a fundamental part of the Service’s professional development structure, designed to sharpen the skills, knowledge, and leadership capacity of mid-level customs personnel.
In his keynote address, the Commandant of the College, Assistant Comptroller-General of Customs, Charles Ogunesan, lauded the graduating officers for their resilience and dedication. He noted that the course was tailored to prepare them for the complex realities of modern customs operations, including trade facilitation, anti-smuggling strategies, intelligence gathering, and border security.
“The Service expects more from you now. You must exhibit the values, knowledge, and professionalism instilled in you during this course as you return to your various commands,” Ogunesan said.
The training curriculum for Junior Course 21 incorporated core modules such as customs law and procedures, ethics, leadership, information and communication technology, and regional trade protocols in line with global standards. Participants also engaged in field exercises and simulation drills to apply theoretical knowledge in real-life scenarios.
Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs, John Atte (rtd), who served as guest of honour, charged the officers to see themselves as ambassadors of reform and excellence within the service. He urged them to uphold integrity, discipline, and national interest in the discharge of their duties.
The graduation of Junior Course 21 underscores the Customs Service’s commitment to human capital development as a pillar for reform. Since the establishment of the Command and Staff College, the NCS has recorded significant improvements in internal training, with the goal of transforming the institution into a centre of excellence for customs administration in West Africa.
Among the 50 graduates, several officers were honoured for outstanding performance during the course, reflecting the Service’s merit-based recognition system. The newly graduated officers are expected to be deployed to various commands across the country where they will contribute to improving customs efficiency, revenue generation, and border management.
