The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Oluwatosin Ajayi, has advocated for a national policy that mandates the recruitment of first-class graduates into the intelligence agency to enhance national security.
Ajayi made this appeal while delivering the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Kwara State.
In his lecture, titled “The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,” Ajayi stressed the need for a transformative approach to recruitment and staffing within security agencies, advocating for the enlistment of only the most qualified individuals.
Represented by the DSS Deputy Director, Patrick Ikenweiwe, the DG proposed that recruiting top academic achievers into the DSS should be a compulsory policy, akin to Israel’s selective university admission system.
Ajayi also highlighted the need to change public perceptions, noting that many Nigerians view security agencies as adversaries rather than allies. He warned that such negative attitudes hinder intelligence gathering, peacebuilding, and national integration.
Drawing parallels with Israel’s education system, he remarked, “In Israel, students take one examination to gain university admission. Those who score above 70 marks are automatically enrolled. In the same vein, we should ensure that academically gifted individuals serve this great nation, particularly in national security roles.”
He emphasized that intelligence work demands exceptional intellect to combat sophisticated criminal networks, adding, “How can a person with limited intellect handle security in a criminal gang made up of individuals with first-class minds? It takes intellect to track criminality.”
Ajayi further expressed his desire to see the academic community assist in identifying top-performing students and ensuring they are recruited to serve the nation.
The lecture underscored the vital role of intelligence agencies in safeguarding national security, noting that the public’s perception of security organizations as adversaries undermines the effectiveness of intelligence operations and peacebuilding efforts.
In his address, Ikenweiwe discussed the evolving security challenges in Nigeria, noting that traditional threats such as sabotage, subversion, and espionage have expanded to include terrorism, insurgency, separatist agitations, militancy, cybercrime, and economic sabotage.
He reaffirmed the DSS’s commitment to tackling these threats through strategic collaborations with other agencies and continuous engagement with stakeholders.
Providing an overview of the DSS’s mandate, Ikenweiwe explained that the agency’s responsibilities are outlined in the National Security Adviser (NSA) Act (CAP N74 LFN, 2024) and the SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999.
These legal frameworks empower the DSS to prevent and detect crimes against Nigeria’s internal security, protect classified national security matters, and provide timely advice to the government on national security concerns.
Additionally, the DSS is mandated to prevent, detect, and investigate threats such as espionage, subversion, sabotage, and terrorism.
“The DSS is also tasked with offering capacity-building training, benefiting officers from the Nigerian Armed Forces, other security agencies, and international counterparts,” Ikenweiwe added.
In a related development, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu met with a delegation from the DSS, led by Deputy Director-General Afolashade Adekayaoja, at the State House in Abuja. The visit highlighted the administration’s commitment to empowering women in leadership positions within the security sector.
Tinubu praised the DSS for appointing a woman to such a high-ranking position, noting, “Women who have proven themselves in their careers deserve recognition and leadership roles. This reflects my husband’s belief in the capabilities and dedication of women.”
She encouraged female leaders within the DSS to support each other and inspire future generations through their leadership and service.
In response, Adekayaoja expressed appreciation for the administration’s focus on gender inclusivity and reaffirmed the DSS’s dedication to ensuring national security and stability.
With its push for the compulsory recruitment of Nigeria’s brightest minds into the intelligence services, the DSS aims to strengthen its operational effectiveness in addressing emerging security challenges while fostering national peace and integration.
