President Bola Tinubu has sent felicitations to Mr Oluwatosin Ajayi, Director-General of the Department of State Services, DSS, on his recognition as a champion of press freedom by the Nigerian National Committee of the International Press Institute, IPI.
President Tinubu welcomes the IPI award and commends the DG for ensuring press freedom, upholding citizens’ rights, and discharging duties within the bounds of the law.
In a statement by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Tinubu noted that the DSS under Mr Ajayi is changing the narrative of hostility against members of the press and creating an atmosphere of dialogue and robust engagement with the civil populace.
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President Tinubu advised other security agencies and officials to emulate the DSS example and engage the media as partners, not adversaries.
The President also urged the DSS to keep up the good work and not to relent in fostering a more enabling environment for journalists and media practitioners to carry out their professional duties, in consonance with the constitutional provision empowering the media to hold all officials to account.
Mr Ajayi was honoured with a commendation award at the Annual Conference of the respected journalism organisation earlier in December.
A citation by IPI, read partly: “Since he was appointed Director-General of the Department of State Services in late August 2024, Mr Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi has demonstrated an unmistakable commitment to press freedom and respect for journalists and media organisations.”
“We do so not only to acknowledge his commendable press freedom credentials but also to encourage him to do even more and to inspire other officials, institutions, and organisations to emulate his example,” the organisation said.
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