DSS: President Tinubu Confers Fellowship Of Security Institute On Graduands Of EIMC-17
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has conferred Fellow of Security Institute (fsi) on 91 graduates, including foreign participants of the Executive Intelligence Management Course (EIMC-17) of the Department of State Service (DSS).
The conferment of the fsi by the President was the first since the inception of the flagship program in 1999.
The occasion in which the President, was represented at the NISS graduation ceremony which took place at Lower Usuma Dam, Abuja, by Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, was an unprecedented demonstration of Inter-Agency collaboration, Security and Intelligence Training which featured participants from African Nations including Cote d’Ivoire, Gambia, Chad, Rwanda and Ghana.
The President described the occasion as one that has redefined inter-agency collaboration as evident in the strong presence of various Security Chiefs and former Director Generals of the secret police.
President Tinubu particularly extolled the current Director General of the Department of State Service, Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi for his exemplary and astute leadership of the Secret Service which was demonstrated in his been able to bring his predecessors together, describing it as a clear message in bolstering unity of purpose in the overall interest of the Service.
President Tinubu urged the graduates of the institute to take advantage of the knowledge acquired during the course to enhance intelligence production, cross-agency collaboration, and national security management efforts.
He commended the auspicious ceremony, saying, the landmark event will certainly remain indelible in the annals of the Agency.
While also applauding Mr. Ajayi’s astuteness, dexterity and wide reach, President Tinubu expressed admiration for the recent remarkable achievements of the DSS Director General, the National Institute, and Service as a whole.
He noted that it was in recognition of the numerous outstanding efforts by the DSS boss that so much was put in to improve the country’s internal security and commitment to supporting the NISS and Service.
Speaking in turn, Vice President Kashim Shettima, urged the newly commissioned Fellows of the National Institute to rise to the challenges of modern national security threats, which he noted demands more than traditional military tactics.
Shettime noted that the Course’s focus on AI will enhance the nation’s security architecture through technology-driven countermeasures.
Earlier in his welcome address, the DG-DSS, Mr Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, expressed gratitude to President Tinubu for appointing him as the helmsman of the elite organisation and honouring the Service.
Ajayi highlighted the evolution of NISS, tracing its origin from Abuja Training School (ATS), established by DSS in 1999 and later transformed to the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) in 2008, dedicated to training of senior officers in Advanced Security and Intelligence Policy Making, at the end of which qualified participants are conferred with Fellow of Security Institute (fsi); a criterion for advancement into management cadre.
The DG-DSS explained that the Institute was elevated to its current status by the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) Bill which was signed into Law in June 2019, by former President Muhammadu Buhari, adding that the elevation of its status, effectively placed it at par with the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) and the National Defence College (NDC), while maintaining its strong coordination by the DSS.
Ajayi also said that the National Institute’s expanded its mandate to conduct Research and Policy Training for Security, Intelligence, Law Enforcement, and Regulatory Agencies across Nigeria and Africa, with representatives from other intelligence agencies (DIA and NIA) on its board and a strengthened sub-regional focus.
The DSS boss underscored the crucial role of inter-agency synergy in addressing security challenges, and expressed confidence in the enhanced security capabilities of Nigeria as a result of the collaborative efforts demonstrated by the current Service Chiefs led by the NSA.
Speaking in turn, the Chairman of the occasion, and former Governor of Niger State, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, lauded the solidarity and presence of former DGs of the Service, saying that the unison will be instrumental to the overall success of NISS and DSS at large.
Aliyu therefore urged elected officials to emulate the virtues of consolidating the legacies of previous administrations and to leverage the Service’s expertise for national development. The former governor canvassed for increased funding to support the DSS’ core mandate just as he advocated clear communication of government policies to enhance governance.
Also speaking, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Mr Nyesom Wike, acknowledged the National Institute’s commitment towards developing security leaders and urged the graduands to consider their experience as a call to duty and national service beyond personal growth.
Akpabio, lamented the country’s current security challenges, which have exposed the economy and polity to transnational threats, thus, commended the choice of Artificial Intelligence (AI) theme for the course, saying it as a step towards lasting solutions.
The Senate President also appreciated the DG-DSS’ efforts in fostering collaboration among relevant agencies and encouraged the Service to continue addressing the root causes of insecurity.
In his vote of thanks on behalf of former Directors General of the DSS, Col ARE (rtd), eulogized the tremendous transformations in the National Institute since its establishment and commended the current management for sustaining the dream of the National Institute’s founders.
He urged the DGSS, Service Chiefs, and graduates to forge ahead in ensuring the protection of Nigeria’s national security and aso called for government support to achieve the National Institute’s goal of deepening research in the fields of security and intelligence management.
The occasion was rounded off with a goodwill video from another former DG, A K HORSFALL, who also congratulated the Course 17 graduates and announced his support for the formation of Forum of retired DGs’ at the instance of the new DGSS.
He posited that this novel initiative will provide a pool of rich knowledge experience and ideas from the intelligence veterans for the benefit of current and future DSS leaders, as well as enhance the smooth transition of successive administrations in the Service.
