Director General of the Department of State Security (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has commended President Bola Tinubu for taking what he described as “bold steps” to tackle the menace of insecurity in the country.
The DSS boss made the commedation at the graduation ceremony of participants of the the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC) 18, 2025 of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS), at the weekend in Abuja.
At the ceremony, 78 officers drawn from various security agencies graduated at the flagship training arm of the Department of State Services (DSS), and became Fellows of the Institute of Security (fsi).
According to the DSS boss, the several reforms by President Tinubu including pushing for the creation of state Police, forest guards, his call for the recruitment of more soldiers and policemen, decentralization of power and transport sectors, among other issues, were signs of the president’s commitment to putting Nigeria on a sound political and economic footing.
According to the DSS boss, the president’s “visionary leadership in designing a strategic security architecture, as well as laying a solid foundation to tackle the country’s security challenges” should be commended.
Ajayi emphasised the Institute’s mandate in fostering inter-agency collaboration, strategic intelligence management, and national development. He charged the newly inducted Fellows to deploy their enhanced skills towards strengthening Nigeria’s security architecture.
In his remarks, Minister of Defence, General Christopher Gwabin Musa (rtd), who was the occasion’s Special Guest of Honour, lauded President Tinubu for taking courageous steps towards making the county safer.
The Minister also commended the leadership of the Department of State Services (DSS) for prioritising excellence, building capacity, and for promoting intelligence training as a cornerstone for national security effectiveness.
He said the quality of graduates being produced by the institute reflects the high premium placed on professionalism and strategic competence by the nation’s intelligence leadership, particularly the DSS under its current Director-General, Oluwatosin Ajayi.
“The Institute has, over the years, established itself as a premier citadel of learning for Security and Intelligence Professionals, not just from Nigeria, but across our sister African nations.
General Musa lauded the graduates for their commitment to the rigorous academic and practical modules of the EIMC, describing their new status as Fellows as “a call to higher responsibility.” He urged them to show more love to Nigeria.
He further commended the Institute for “sustaining excellence in producing strategic-level security leaders equipped with the competencies required to address contemporary national and global security challenges.”
“The graduation of these distinguished participants today is a testament to the unwavering commitment of the leadership to excellence and advanced training,” stated the minister.
“You have been trained not just to collect intelligence, but to manage it. This distinction is critical. You are now custodians of a sacred trust to provide clarity that will guide decisions for the safety, stability and prosperity of our nation,” he stated.
The Defence Minister stressed that the Armed Forces rely fundamentally on timely, accurate and actionable intelligence to protect Nigeria’s territorial integrity and to support civil authorities. He added that the effectiveness of military operations is directly linked to the quality of intelligence provided by security agencies.
“The threats we face are integrated and agile, and our response must be equally integrated and swift,” Musa said. “As you ascend to higher executive responsibilities, you must carry with you the highest standards of professionalism, ethics and integrity.”
“Your graduation today is not an end, but the beginning of a more demanding chapter of national service. I have full confidence that you are equal to the task,” he said.
The Commandant of NISS, Joseph Obule Odama, highlighted the uniqueness of EIMC 18, noting that members of the course undertook extensive research, policy simulations, and strategic field studies across key sectors crucial to national security.
The event drew an impressive gathering of Nigeria’s top security chiefs, policy makers and members of the traditional institution. Adding royal splendour to the occasion was the Olu of Warri, His Majesty Ogiame Atuwatse III, who served as the Royal Father of the Day.