The Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has announced the Director-General of the Department of State Services Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi its “Man of the Year” for strengthening collaboration between security agencies and the media.

The award which was announced at the NUJ’s 2-day National Security Summit in Abuja with the theme “Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation Building” drew media executives, journalists, security chiefs, policymakers, academics, civil society and development partners.

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.

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.

Speakers including Prof Okey Ikechukwu and IPI Nigeria President Musikilu Mojeed stressed strategic communication and press freedom as mutually reinforcing while the President of National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Aisha Ibrahim pushed for more women in peacebuilding during the summit .

Delegates at the summit recommended institutionalising structured dialogue between media and security agencies
Proactive, transparent communication from security services, stronger fact-checking and ethical standards in journalism and joint training for journalists, security communicators, more funding for education, youth empowerment, state media and modern security technology.