0
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has honoured the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, mni, with its Man of the Year Award in recognition of his role in strengthening collaboration between security agencies and the media.
The honour was announced on Friday at the conclusion of a two-day National Security Summit in Abuja, where journalists, security chiefs, policymakers, academics, civil society actors and development partners gathered to deliberate on strategies for deepening cooperation between the media and security institutions in the interest of national development.
The summit, themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building,” was organised by the NUJ in collaboration with the DSS and focused on the role of strategic communication, responsible journalism and coordinated security responses in promoting national stability.
Presenting the award, the NUJ said the recognition reflected its appreciation of a leadership style that prioritises engagement, transparency and constructive partnership between the media and security agencies.
According to the union, the DSS under Ajayi’s leadership has maintained regular interaction with media stakeholders, helping to foster mutual understanding, reduce misinformation and build confidence between journalists and security institutions.
The NUJ noted that such collaboration has become increasingly important in a security environment characterised by terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, violent extremism and other emerging threats.
Addressing journalists while presenting the recommendations from the summit, NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, described the gathering as a timely intervention designed to strengthen cooperation between the media and security agencies.
He stressed that national security is a collective responsibility that requires ethical and professional journalism as well as effective communication by security institutions.
Abdullahi said the summit underscored the need for sustained engagement between journalists and security agencies to ensure accurate information dissemination and public trust.
The Honourable Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who chaired the occasion, commended both the media and security agencies for their contributions to national development.
He called for greater trust, professionalism and collaboration among stakeholders, while reaffirming the Federal Government’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency cooperation, technological advancement and community-based approaches to addressing security challenges.
Participants at the summit emphasised the critical role of the media in supporting national security efforts while safeguarding democratic values.
Professor Okey Ikechukwu highlighted the importance of strategic communication in countering misinformation and harmful narratives, while President of the International Press Institute (IPI) Nigeria, Musikilu Mojeed, maintained that press freedom and national security are complementary objectives that can be strengthened through dialogue and adherence to due process.
Also speaking, President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Aisha Ibrahim, advocated greater inclusion of women in peacebuilding initiatives and security governance.
The summit observed that sustainable security requires a whole-of-society approach that combines effective security operations with socio-economic development, community participation and credible communication.
Participants expressed concern over the growing threat posed by misinformation and disinformation, the underutilisation of women and youths in peacebuilding efforts, and the link between substance abuse and criminal activities.
Among the key recommendations adopted were the institutionalisation of structured dialogue between media organisations and security agencies, improved transparency in security communication, enhanced fact-checking and ethical journalism standards, and regular joint training programmes for journalists and security communicators.
The summit also called for increased investment in education, youth empowerment, state-owned media organisations and modern security technology to strengthen national resilience.
In its closing remarks, the summit expressed appreciation to Ajayi and the leadership of the DSS for their support and commitment to fostering collaboration between the media and security agencies.
The communiqué was drafted by Shu’aibu Usman Leman, Abdulrazak Bello Kaura and Ayuku Pwaspo, and signed by NUJ National President, Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi, on June 19, 2026.
