Ilorin, Kwara State -- Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), has advocated for a national policy mandating the recruitment of first-class graduates into the intelligence agency. Speaking at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies, University of Ilorin, Ajayi, represented by his Deputy Director, Patrick Ikenweiwe, argued that this move is crucial for strengthening national security.
In his lecture, "The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration," Ajayi emphasized the need for a paradigm shift in recruitment practices within security agencies. He likened his proposal to Israel's selective university admission system, suggesting that high academic achievers should be compelled to serve the nation in intelligence roles.
Ajayi stressed the intellectual demands of intelligence work, arguing that only top minds can effectively counter sophisticated criminal networks. "Tell me how would a ‘Dundee’ (dullard) be able to keep security in a criminal gang that is constituted of First Class people?" he asked. He urged the academic community to provide details of excelling students to the DSS for recruitment.
The Director-General also highlighted the negative impact of public perception on intelligence gathering. He warned that viewing security agencies as adversaries rather than allies hinders their effectiveness.
Ikenweiwe addressed the evolving nature of security threats in Nigeria, noting the shift from traditional threats to more complex challenges like terrorism, insurgency, cybercrime, and economic sabotage. He reaffirmed the DSS's commitment to tackling these threats through interagency collaboration and stakeholder engagement.
He outlined the DSS's mandate as defined in the NSA Act CAP N74 LFN, 2024 and SSS Instrument No. 1 of 1999, which includes preventing and detecting crimes against internal security, protecting classified national security matters, and advising the government on national security issues.
In a related development, First Lady Oluremi Tinubu received a DSS delegation, led by Deputy Director-General Afolashade Adekayaoja, at the State House, Abuja. Tinubu praised the DSS for appointing a woman to a high-ranking position, underscoring the administration's commitment to empowering women in security leadership. Adekayaoja reiterated the DSS's dedication to national security and stability.
The DSS's push for recruiting top graduates reflects its commitment to enhancing its capabilities and effectively addressing the evolving security landscape in Nigeria.
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