The Nigeria Union of Journalists on Friday honoured DSS Director-General Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi, with its “Man of the Year” award for strengthening collaboration between security agencies and the media.
The award followed NUJ’s 2-day National Security Summit in Abuja themed “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building”. The summit ran June 18–19, 2026, and drew media executives, journalists, security chiefs, policymakers, academics, civil society and development partners.
–NUJ: Partnership protects democracy—
NUJ said the honour was “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.”
In presenting the award, the union noted it recognised “a leadership approach that values engagement, transparency and partnership”.
Under Ajayi, DSS has pursued regular interaction with media stakeholders, creating channels that reduce suspicion, curb misinformation and foster cooperative solutions to security challenges.
—“Security is shared responsibility”—
NUJ National President Comrade Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi called the summit timely amid terrorism, banditry, kidnapping, cybercrime, violent extremism, separatist agitations and hybrid threats.
“National security is a shared responsibility requiring ethical, accurate journalism and coordinated action across institutions,” he said.
Minister of Information Alhaji Mohammed Idris, who chaired the event, commended both sides and reaffirmed federal government’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations, inter-agency collaboration, tech modernisation and community-based responses.
–Summit recommendations–
Speakers including Prof Okey Ikechukwu and IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed stressed strategic communication and press freedom as mutually reinforcing.
NAWOJ President Aisha Ibrahim pushed for more women in peacebuilding.
Delegates recommended:
The communiqué was drafted by Shu’aibu Usman Leman, Abdulrazak Bello Kaura and Ayuku Pwaspo, and signed by NUJ President Abdullahi on June 19, 2026.