NUJ Awards Man of the Year to DSS Director-General Ajayi for Promoting Media‑Security Collaboration

Linus Aleke in Abuja

The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) awarded its “Man of the Year” honor to the Director‑General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi. The award recognizes his efforts to strengthen cooperation between the media and security agencies in support of national development and security.

The accolade was presented at the conclusion of the NUJ’s two‑day National Security Summit in Abuja, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building.”

The summit convened media executives, journalists, security chiefs, policymakers, academics, civil society organisations and development partners to explore ways to deepen collaboration in tackling the country’s security challenges.

In explaining the award, the NUJ said it endorses the values of partnership, openness and mutual respect between the media and security institutions. The union added that the honour “is an affirmation that partnership, openness and mutual respect between the media and security institutions are vital to protecting lives, preserving democratic space and advancing nation‑building.”

The award also recognises “a leadership approach that values engagement, transparency and partnership.” The union noted that under Ajayi’s leadership the DSS has maintained regular engagement with media stakeholders, creating communication channels that reduce suspicion, curb misinformation and encourage collaborative responses to security challenges.

During the summit, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, described the event as both timely and necessary, given the complex security threats confronting the country—including terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, violent extremism, separatist agitations and other emerging hybrid threats. He stressed the importance of collective responsibility in addressing these challenges, saying, “National security is a shared responsibility requiring ethical, accurate journalism and coordinated action across institutions.”

Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who chaired the summit, praised the growing collaboration between the media and security agencies. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to intelligence‑driven operations, enhanced inter‑agency cooperation, technological modernisation and community‑based approaches to security management.

Discussions also highlighted the need to balance national security imperatives with the protection of press freedom. Speakers such as Prof Okey Ikechukwu and IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed stressed that strategic communication and press freedom should be viewed as complementary rather than competing objectives. The President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Aisha Ibrahim, called for greater inclusion of women in peacebuilding and conflict‑resolution initiatives.

At the summit’s conclusion, participants adopted several recommendations to strengthen cooperation between the media and security institutions. These include institutionalising structured dialogue between media organisations and security agencies, encouraging more proactive and transparent communication by security services, strengthening fact‑checking mechanisms, and upholding ethical standards in journalism.

Delegates also urged joint training programmes for journalists and security communicators, and increased investment in education, youth empowerment, state‑owned media organisations and modern security technologies.