Headlines

Writing “Beauty for Ashes” is strictly by instruction of Holy Spirit—-Oluwatoyin Olojo

Oluwatoyin Anuoluwapo Olojo

—an interview with Oluwatoyin Olojo, author of ”Beauty for Ashes”

by PAROUSIA Magazine

Beauty For Ashes is an outstanding book published by Parousia in 2021. We had an interesting conversation with Oluwatoyin A Olojo about her debut book. This interview gave insight into her and her book.

Why did you decide to write Beauty for Ashes? Is there something specifically that spurred you to write this book?

Writing Beauty for Ashes was strictly by the instruction of the Holy Spirit. First, I received the title, then the launch date which was just six months away, then the chapter by chapter title as well as their subtitles… It was indeed divinely orchestrated.

Have you always had it in mind that you’d write a book, be an author?

I have always loved to write. I have always had a private journal, I even had a slum book in back secondary school and I always found a way to express my thoughts in writing. However, I never intended to be an author; a poet maybe, but not an author.

Your book is a book that holds a deep message. Tell us about the message you are trying to pass across with “Beauty For Ashes.”

You know, when the Holy Spirit first told me about Beauty for Ashes, He said it was going to be an expression of my life’s story. I kept asking what story my life was telling and He said, everyone, has a story to tell. During that period, I was going through a lot of redefining moments in my life, which involved getting hurt and recovering. I also realised that I’ve always had deep compassion for young ladies who somehow ended up becoming slaves to sex either intentionally or not.

The main focus of Beauty for Ashes is salvation and healing. This is why the book comes with a workbook to help readers answer salient questions about themselves and a devotional to help guide them through.

After this book, do you still have it in mind to publish a new book? And when should we be expecting it?

Yes yes yes! The deep treatment each chapter in Beauty for Ashes gives, started with me. Beauty for Ashes was an opening to my calling as a Scribe according to Matthew 13:52. It’s a deep calling as several other book titles have been received and are awaiting the divine instruction to “GO!”.

I’m sure some of our aspiring authors will love to know this. What was your greatest motivation in publishing this book, what was the process like?

Hmmm, considering the genre I’m called to write which is spiritual and can be sometimes satirical, I would say it takes having a burden to give a big release. The depth of your burden will fuel your sense of urgency and give you all the push or motivation you need. There were times I broke down in tears while writing Beauty for Ashes, especially in Cactus and Sunflower, It was indeed a process! The whole message started with me! Letting out all that information about myself left me with zero shame and that in turn birthed “The Shame-free Tribe”. My biggest motivation was my burden to see freedom, healing, and salvation.

Apart from the publication by the publisher, what step do you take to make sure your book gets out there? Tell us about the book launch.

Honestly, publicising the book has not been quite easy but I have made sure to have an author’s website in my name where articles relating to the book and other interests are often posted. The homepage carries the book image and everyone who visits the site gets to see the book first.

“The depth of your burden will fuel your sense of urgency and give you all the push or motivation you need. There were times I broke down in tears while writing Beauty for Ashes, especially in Cactus and Sunflower, It was indeed a process!”

The book launch was more of a small, private event. I believe in starting small and as such was glad to have a controllable crowd of about 35 persons in attendance. It was tagged “the release of a book, of pain and of sounds of worship”. All we did, majorly, was worship God. We also watched video clips of people’s stories of sexual abuse and how they overcame the pain. Some guests also shared their stories of how they were raped, nearly raped, and victimised. It was indeed a release of pain.

Tell us about your experience with your Publisher, Parousia Reads.

Parousia Reads has one endearing factor which is accuracy. The team knows how well to get in your head and replicate the exact same ideas you have. When I saw my book cover design, I began to ask if there was someone else present when the Spirit of the Lord showed me the image. They were also considerate of the first-time author that I was and made every step less burdensome. Thank you Parousia Reads! Thank you Samuel Tola Ijalusi!

So far, how has the experience been? And what do you intend to do after now?

The experience has been transforming! Beauty for Ashes has called forth other assignments and I’m super grateful to God for trusting me with this vision. After now, asides from sending thousands of sponsored copies to teenagers and commercial sex workers across Nations, I also hope to flesh up the skeletal framework of The Shame-free Tribe.

I still write copies, proposals, and contents for businesses, I still write poems, articles, and blog posts, and I still sell insurance and give investment advice. All these and more I’ll continue to do even while I focus on my education. Ultimately, I intend to love on God!

You can purchase this book on these platforms

AMAZON
OKADABOOKS
ADLIBRIS
DIDERICH

BEAUTY FOR ASHES by Oluwatoyin A. Olojo

Customs

Customs’ reforms, modernisation project excite Senate

Gloria Odion, Maritme reporter

The Senate Committee on Customs and Excise has commended the far-reaching reforms being implemented by the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Adewale Adeniyi, describing them as evidence of prudent investment of government resources to reposition the Service for greater efficiency, transparency and improved service delivery.

The commendation came on Thursday, August 6, 2026, during a two-day retreat organised by the NCS in collaboration with the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise to strengthen legislative oversight and review the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

As part of the retreat, members of the Committee toured the Customs House in Maitama, Abuja, where they were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programmes, technology-driven operations and institutional reforms.

Speaking after the tour, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs and Excise, Senator Isah Jibrin, said the visit offered lawmakers an opportunity to witness first-hand the transformation taking place within the NCS.

“We have heard about these reforms from afar, but today we have seen them ourselves.

“The transformation taking place in the NCS is remarkable, particularly in the deployment of technology, modern infrastructure and operational innovations that are repositioning the Service for greater efficiency,” he said.

Jibrin said the retreat had also enabled members of the Committee to gain a clearer understanding of how appropriated funds were being utilised by the Customs Service.

“When the NCS comes before the National Assembly seeking approval for capital expenditure, we now have a clearer understanding of what those resources are being used for.

“The reforms we have seen today clearly demonstrate that government funds are being invested responsibly to strengthen Customs operations, improve trade facilitation and enhance national revenue,” he stated.

Responding, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, attributed the progress recorded by the Service to the deliberate deployment of technology across various aspects of Customs administration and operations.

He said technology had become central to the NCS strategy for improving efficiency, transparency and service delivery.

“Technology helps us to work faster and more efficiently. We started by deploying digital solutions into personnel administration, postings, staff matters and pensions before extending them to our core operational responsibilities, and we will continue until virtually every aspect of Customs operations is technology-driven,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs chief also highlighted the deployment of advanced technology in the Service’s enforcement operations, including virtual shooting simulators, geospatial intelligence and digital surveillance systems.

“We are deploying geospatial intelligence to map our patrol routes and position our checkpoints more efficiently across the country.

“Combined with modern training facilities such as our virtual shooting range, these innovations will significantly strengthen our enforcement capabilities,” he explained.

Adeniyi further disclosed that several of the Service’s modernisation initiatives were backed by provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act, stressing that the NCS remained committed to implementing reforms that align its operations with the Federal Government’s broader economic agenda.

“The law requires us to modernise our operations. Initiatives such as the Authorised Economic Operator Programme, Advance Ruling, Time Release Study, scanner deployment and other technology-driven reforms are all backed by the provisions of the Nigeria Customs Service Act.

“Our responsibility is to continue implementing them to support the Federal Government’s reform agenda,” he said.

The Senate Committee’s commendation is expected to further strengthen legislative support for the NCS modernisation programme as the Service intensifies efforts to leverage technology, strengthen enforcement, facilitate legitimate trade and boost revenue generation.

The retreat also provided an avenue for lawmakers and Customs management to deepen their understanding of the operational realities of modern Customs administration and the legislative framework required to sustain ongoing reforms.

Analyses

The National Single Window illusion: Why phase two is dead on arrival

Chief Nasiru Ibrahim

Tomorrow on Monday Discourse with Nasiru Ibrahim, I am dropping part three of my maritime audit, ‘The Single Window Illusion: Why Phase Two is Already Grounded.

For months, our regulatory class has hidden behind the glossy public relations of automated portals, celebrating the ‘take-off’ of Phase One.

But a cold look at the raw data reveals a terrifying truth: we are running a digitised facade over a broken, manual rent-seeking ecosystem.

Tomorrow , I shall be exposing the massive operational disconnect between the new B’Odogwu Customs System and the brutal, manual greed at the terminal gates.

You cannot claim to master trade velocity when parallel checkpoints, erratic human intervention, and bridge shakedowns are hardcoded into the Apapa corridor.

Tomorrow, we strip away the illusions and confront the structural arithmetic holding our supply chains hostage.

Lock your dials on this platform. The clock is ticking.

Customs

Customs courts Senate to amend Customs Act for enhanced operational capacity

Funso Olojo, Editor

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has called on the Senate to amend critical provisions of the 2023 Customs Act to bring Nigeria’s customs administration in line with rapidly evolving global trade practices and strengthen the Service’s operational capacity.

The appeal was made at a retreat organised by the NCS for members of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs on August 5, 2026, where lawmakers were briefed on the Service’s ongoing modernisation programme and the need for stronger legislative oversight and statutory support.

Speaking at the retreat, the Comptroller-General of Customs, Adewale Adeniyi, urged the lawmakers to review the legal framework governing customs administration, arguing that Nigeria’s trade laws must evolve alongside emerging trends in international commerce and customs management.

Adeniyi said effective legislative oversight could only be achieved when lawmakers had a comprehensive understanding of the changing nature of customs operations and the reforms being implemented by the Service.

He explained that the retreat was designed to bridge existing information gaps and provide members of the Senate committee with a clearer understanding of the transformation taking place within the NCS.

According to him, such understanding would enable the lawmakers to provide informed oversight and the statutory backing required to sustain the Service’s modernisation agenda.

“While some provisions had worked as intended, others had proved difficult to apply or had been overtaken by the rapidly changing trade environment.

“We are requesting considerable amendments to ensure the Act remains relevant to fast-moving trade policies and supports the Service’s modernisation agenda,” Adeniyi said.

The Customs boss stressed that although the Service currently enjoys strong support from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the NCS Board under the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Taiwo Oyedele, lasting reforms require statutory protection that goes beyond the tenure of any particular administration.

He said legislative amendments would provide the institutional stability required to consolidate the gains of the ongoing reforms and ensure that future administrations could build on the foundation already being laid.

Highlighting the breadth of the NCS modernisation programme, the Deputy Comptroller-General of Customs in charge of Human Resources Development, Tijani Abbey, outlined several initiatives being implemented to transform customs administration.

Among them are the deployment of the indigenous B’Odogwu Trade Management System, intelligence-driven post-clearance audits, the Authorised Economic Operator (AEO) programme, coordinated border management and end-to-end digital process integration.

These initiatives, he explained, are aimed at improving revenue collection, facilitating legitimate trade, reducing human intervention in customs processes and strengthening national security.

The reforms are also expected to enhance transparency, improve compliance and make Nigeria’s trading environment more competitive by aligning customs procedures with international best practices.

Responding, the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Customs, Excise and Tariffs, Senator Isah Jibrin, commended the NCS for surpassing its revenue targets despite the operational challenges confronting the Service.

Jibrin assured the Customs management that the National Assembly was prepared to provide the legislative support required to consolidate the Service’s achievements and address identified constraints.

“What you need to do is to identify your challenges, try to address them as much as possible, so as to have a much more robust, inclusive, and beyond-budget performance. Where you require legislative backing, please do not hesitate to call on us,” Jibrin advised.

The Senate committee chairman also congratulated Adeniyi on his re-election as Chairperson of the World Customs Organisation (WCO) Council, describing the feat as a reflection of Nigeria’s growing influence in global customs administration and international trade.

The retreat therefore marked a significant step towards closer collaboration between the NCS and the legislature, particularly at a time when Nigeria is seeking to modernise its trade architecture, increase revenue mobilisation and improve the efficiency of its borders and ports.

For the Customs Service, the proposed amendment of the Act is not merely about changing outdated provisions but creating a legal framework capable of supporting a technology-driven, intelligence-led and globally competitive customs administration.