By Peace Udugba
The Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, has called for stronger national and institutional support for the completion of the Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) National Secretariat project in Abuja, describing it as a landmark facility that will reflect pride in the public relations profession.
Adeniyi made the appeal on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, during an inspection of the ongoing construction of the NIPR National Secretariat, also known as “Public Relations Place,” located within the premises of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), Radio House, Garki, Abuja.
He expressed satisfaction with the level of progress on the project and noted that the public relations profession has played a significant role in nation-building and in shaping the careers of many Nigerians.
According to him, it is time for practitioners and stakeholders to give back to the profession by supporting the completion of a world-class national secretariat.
“PR has done a lot for many of us. It has given us opportunities and platforms to serve, and it has made many of us what we are today. This is the time for us to give something back to the profession,” he said.
Adeniyi described the project as a major milestone for the profession, expressing confidence in the leadership of the institute and the project committee driving its execution.
He further appealed to corporate organisations, government institutions, and friends of the profession to contribute towards its completion, especially ahead of the World Public Relations Forum expected to be hosted in Nigeria later in the year.
“We are hosting the world before the end of the year, and this project will be a good gift from Nigeria to the global PR family,” he added.
The Customs boss also assured stakeholders of his continued efforts to mobilise support for the project within and outside the profession, recalling his past role as Vice President of the Institute and his fellowship status with the NIPR.
Earlier, the Director-General of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, Muhammad Bulama, described the project as a major boost to the communication and public relations sector in Nigeria.
He said the organisation released the land for the project after recognising the importance of the institute to national development, adding that he was initially unsure how quickly the project would progress.
“Today, we are seeing a massive structure rising here within a short period, and we are proud to host this important institution,” he said.
Also speaking, the Vice President of the NIPR and Chairman of the Project Committee, Professor Emmanuel Dandaura, reaffirmed the institute’s commitment to delivering a world-class secretariat for the profession.
He commended the support of Adeniyi and other stakeholders, noting that such encouragement has strengthened the resolve of the project team to ensure timely completion.
The inspection visit was attended by members of the NIPR Governing Council, Fellows of the institute, officials of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria, engineers, and other stakeholders in the communications and public relations sector.
