Imagine organizational change not imposed by external forces, but driven from within by inspired leaders. What catalysts and motivations enable such transformation? The partnership between the World Customs Organization (WCO) and Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) aims to ignite this spark of internal change through leadership development.
From October 9-20, 2023, under the WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme funded by UK's HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), the WCO conducted a two-week Leadership and Management Development (LMD) workshop in Abuja for 16 senior NCS officials. This initiative represents a strategic component of the longstanding WCO-NCS partnership, designed to drive internal reforms by enhancing leadership capabilities.
Strategic Foundation: The WCO Accelerate Trade Facilitation Programme
The WCO's global initiative provides technical assistance, capacity building, and strategic guidance to help customs administrations improve efficiency, transparency, and compliance. The Nigeria collaboration forms a key part of the program's African implementation, supporting the country's trade facilitation objectives.
Workshop Objectives: Empowering Leaders to Drive Change
The LMD workshop focused on developing participants' self-awareness, communication skills, people management, and change management capabilities. The curriculum aimed to transform senior officials into more effective leaders and change agents within NCS.
Curriculum: Personal Growth Meets Organizational Development
The comprehensive program addressed multiple dimensions of leadership and management:
Leadership
Participants explored various leadership styles with emphasis on situational leadership and vision-casting to align teams with organizational goals.
Integrity
Case studies and group discussions examined ethical dilemmas and strategies for building organizational integrity.
Inclusivity
Role-playing exercises helped leaders understand diverse perspectives and manage multicultural teams effectively.
Negotiation
Simulations and case studies enhanced participants' ability to reach mutually beneficial agreements.
People Management
The workshop covered essential HR processes from recruitment to performance management through practical case analyses.
Communication
Interactive sessions improved listening, articulation, and feedback skills through role-playing scenarios.
Change Management
Participants learned to identify change needs, develop implementation plans, and overcome resistance through structured frameworks.
The program particularly emphasized self-awareness as the foundation for professional growth, incorporating self-assessment tools and reflection exercises.
Open Dialogue: Addressing Challenges Collectively
The workshop created a safe space for candid discussions about NCS's current challenges and future direction. Participants actively shared experiences and collaboratively explored reform strategies.
Skill Assessment: Targeted Professional Development
Feedback sessions identified key growth areas, with participants highlighting needs in self-awareness, communication, people management, and change leadership. These insights informed personalized development plans.
Leadership by Example: Comptroller-General's Testimony
NCS Comptroller-General Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, himself a 2016 LMD alumnus and participant in this year's executive program, shared his transformational journey. His personal account of the program's career impact inspired participants and reinforced NCS's commitment to leadership development.
Future Collaboration: Sustaining Momentum
The WCO-NCS partnership continues to strengthen Nigeria's customs administration through capacity building. Ongoing collaboration aims to enhance operational efficiency, transparency, and compliance - contributing to Nigeria's economic prosperity.
The successful workshop not only elevated participants' leadership capabilities but also injected new energy into NCS's reform agenda. This strategic investment in human capital positions Nigeria Customs Service for continued progress.