The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Adeola Ajayi, has called on alumni of the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) to move beyond ceremonial affiliations and take on strategic roles in driving national and continental security policies.
Speaking through his deputy, Mrs. Folashade Adekayaoja, at the 2025 Annual General Meeting of the Alumni Association of NISS (AANISS) in Abuja, Ajayi stressed the need for a more integrated and proactive security approach in the face of evolving threats such as terrorism, cybercrime, and political instability.
“This meeting is not just a reunion, but a policy dialogue and a call to action,” Ajayi said, noting that the alumni body holds a unique position to influence security discourse through advocacy, collaboration, and leadership.
He outlined five priority areas for enhanced impact: policy advocacy, institutional partnerships, capacity building, professionalism in the security sector, and regional engagement.
Ajayi also urged members to become mentors, strengthen institutions, and engage with Africa’s peace and security frameworks through research, training, and operational collaboration.
Board of Trustees Chairperson, Mary Otubu, represented by Maj.-Gen. Ibrahim Salisu, echoed the call for internal cohesion and strategic networking. She noted that a permanent secretariat was in the works, with land already secured for the project.
Otubu described the alumni as a vital repository of national security knowledge and urged them to stay connected and engaged with key security stakeholders, including the DSS and the Office of the National Security Adviser.
AANISS President, Chief Mike Ejiofor, also encouraged members to use their platforms and networks to promote the association’s influence and impact. He stressed the importance of financial commitment, including annual dues, as critical to sustaining the association’s operations and growth.
“This is a clarion call for us to proudly wear our alumni identity and bring AANISS into conversations where opportunities are created,” he said.
Ejiofor expressed optimism that the AGM would inspire renewed dedication to advancing national security through alumni collaboration.