Omooba Adejumoke Agunbiade Bows Out of Nigerian Customs Service with Honours

As Deputy Comptroller, Omooba Adejumoke Femi Agunbiade retires from the Nigerian Customs Service, colleagues, friends, and family gathered to celebrate his remarkable career and legacy of excellence, which has inspired generations of customs officers. Writes MARY NNAH

The Retirement Reception Party for Deputy Comptroller of Customs, Omooba Adejumoke Femi Agunbiade, was a grand celebration that took place on January 5th at Marcelina Place, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos.

The event was a tribute to the high esteem in which Agunbiade is held by his colleagues, friends, and family, who all gathered to honour his 35 years of dedicated service to the Nigerian Customs Service.

As the guests arrived, they were greeted by the warm and welcoming atmosphere of the venue, which was beautifully decorated with balloons, flowers, and a giant banner bearing Agunbiade’s name and title. The air was filled with the sweet scent of food, as a sumptuous buffet had been laid out for the guests to enjoy.

As the ceremony began, Agunbiade took to the stage, looking every inch the dignified and accomplished leader that he is. He was resplendent in his traditional attire, which was adorned with intricate embroidery and sparkling jewelry. As he surveyed the crowd, his eyes shone with gratitude and humility, and his voice was filled with emotion as he began to speak.

“I’m really overwhelmed,” he said, his voice trembling with emotion. “I have planned parties for people, but the figures that came in during this, my own party, I couldn’t imagine it. My friends started it from the U.S. They were not even customs officers. They are friends from outside customs. I would like to say that I have been to customs too. Please add them. So, I can say that it’s been wonderful. I’m very, very joyful.”

As Agunbiade spoke, it was clear that he was deeply moved by the outpouring of love and support from his colleagues and friends. He took a moment to compose himself, and then continued to reflect on his journey, from humble beginnings as a Customs Assistant to rising through the ranks to become a Deputy Comptroller.

“I didn’t start as a Deputy Controller,” he noted. “I started from the scratch, manning the gate, and making sure things were done normally. I’m a non-conformist. So, and definitely the fact that I’m a non-conformist, people still don’t know me the way I am. So, all I get is that I have a good relationship among people, among my officers, among the stakeholders. I treat you the way you are supposed to be treated, as a human being, as a stakeholder, as part of the system. Advice where necessary.”

Agunbiade’s colleagues and friends took turns to praise his exceptional leadership, kindness, and dedication to duty.
Assistant Comptroller Dapo Afeni described him as an “elder brother and colleague” who had been a role model and inspiration to many. “He’s a very jolly good fellow, always looking out for others,” Afeni said. “We are from the same state, and he has been playing that big brother role. He is someone you would love to meet. At least, you can see for yourself. He is king of boys. Of course, he has been an inspiration. His selflessness is human. He is very humane and down-to-earth.”

Another colleague, Assistant Comptroller A.A. Adeleke, echoed similar sentiments, calling Agunbiade “a down-to-earth person” who “carries people along” and “allows you to operate and grow.” “He gives you the space to operate,” Adeleke said.
“Then he can correct where the correction is required. He is so empathetic. You can see from the crowd here. You can see from the caliber of people here. From the top to the bottom of the Nigerian Custom Service are well represented here to enjoy the gathering with him. There are some people that will call for this kind of occasion, but you don’t see people like this. In fact, this space is too small for us. So, some of us have decided that some groups should come early, while some groups will come late”, he added.

As the ceremony progressed, it became clear that Agunbiade’s impact on the Nigerian Customs Service had been profound. He had worked tirelessly to promote the interests of the service, and had been a driving force behind many of its successes. His commitment to duty, his integrity, and his compassion had earned him the respect and admiration of his colleagues and friends.

As Agunbiade looks to the future, he does so with a sense of pride and accomplishment. He knows that he has made a lasting impact on the Nigerian Customs Service, and that his legacy will continue to inspire and motivate others long after he is gone. And as he begins his retirement, he can do so with the knowledge that he has earned the love and respect of his colleagues and friends.

In his advice to Nigerians, Agunbiade emphasized the importance of taking ownership of security. “All of us, as Nigerians, have to see something and say something,” he