The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has honoured Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), with its prestigious Man of the Year Award, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen collaboration between the media and security agencies in Nigeria.
The honour was announced at the end of a two-day National Security Summit held in Abuja, where media professionals, security chiefs, policymakers, academics, and civil society stakeholders gathered to discuss strategies for enhancing national security through stronger cooperation between the press and security institutions.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” was jointly organised by the NUJ and the DSS. Participants examined the critical role of strategic communication, responsible journalism, and intelligence-sharing in addressing Nigeria’s complex security challenges.
Why NUJ Honoured Adeola Ajayi
According to the NUJ, the award goes beyond recognizing a public official. It acknowledges a leadership style that promotes openness, engagement, and mutual respect between journalists and security agencies.
The union noted that under Ajayi’s leadership, the DSS has maintained constructive engagement with media stakeholders, creating avenues for information exchange, reducing misinformation, and fostering trust in the management of security-related issues.
The recognition, the union said, reflects the growing importance of media-security collaboration in tackling terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, violent extremism, and other emerging threats confronting Nigeria.
National Security Summit Highlights
Speaking at the summit, Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, National President of the NUJ, described the gathering as a timely intervention aimed at strengthening partnerships needed to safeguard Nigeria’s democracy and national stability.
He stressed that national security should not be viewed solely as the responsibility of security agencies but as a collective duty requiring accurate reporting, ethical journalism, and active citizen participation.
Also speaking, Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and National Orientation, commended both journalists and security agencies for their complementary roles in nation-building.
The minister reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to intelligence-led operations, inter-agency collaboration, technological modernization, and community-driven security initiatives.
Experts Call for Stronger Media-Security Cooperation
Several speakers at the summit emphasized the need for closer collaboration between journalists and security institutions.
Among them was Okey Ikechukwu, who argued that strategic communication remains essential in combating misinformation and harmful narratives that undermine national security efforts.
Similarly, Musikilu Mojeed, President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, highlighted the importance of balancing press freedom with national security concerns through dialogue, transparency, and adherence to due process.
Meanwhile, Aisha Ibrahim, President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), called for greater inclusion of women in peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and security governance.
Key Recommendations from the Summit
Recognition of DSS Leadership
The summit communiqué specifically commended Ajayi and the leadership of the DSS for supporting the initiative and promoting a collaborative approach to national security communication.
For many participants, the award reflects a growing recognition that effective security management in modern democracies depends not only on operational capacity but also on public trust, transparency, and strategic communication.
As Nigeria continues to confront evolving security challenges, stakeholders at the summit agreed that stronger cooperation between the media and security agencies remains essential for promoting national stability, combating misinformation, and advancing sustainable nation-building.