The Nigeria Union of Journalists has conferred its Man of the Year award on Department of State Services Director-General Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi at the conclusion of a National Security Summit in Abuja, citing what the union described as a leadership approach that had strengthened cooperation between the media and security agencies through regular engagement, transparency, and mutual respect rather than the suspicion and antagonism that had historically characterized that relationship.
The summit, themed Media and Security Agencies as Partners in Nation-Building, brought together media executives, journalists, security chiefs, academics, and civil society representatives to examine how collaboration between the press and security institutions could be deepened to address the country’s complex security challenges without compromising press freedom.
NUJ National President Alhassan Yahaya Abdullahi said national security was a shared responsibility requiring ethical and accurate journalism alongside coordinated institutional action. Information Minister Mohammed Idris, who chaired the summit, reaffirmed the government’s commitment to intelligence-driven operations and enhanced inter-agency cooperation.
Participants produced recommendations calling for institutionalized structured dialogue between media organizations and security agencies, more proactive and transparent communication from security services, joint training programs for journalists and security communicators, stronger fact-checking mechanisms, and increased investment in modern security technologies. Speakers also stressed that strategic communication and press freedom should be viewed as complementary objectives rather than competing values.
