The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Adeola Ajayi, has been honored with the “Friend of the Media” award by the Broadcasting Organisation of Nigeria (BON).
According to a report by The Guardian Nigeria, the recognition was announced during the Nigeria Broadcasting Awards night held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026, in Abuja. This latest honor comes just five months after the International Press Institute (IPI) recognized him for championing press freedom, marking a significant shift in the relationship between the nation’s primary domestic intelligence agency and the press.
Key highlights from the event:
- Media Partnership: BON described Mr. Ajayi as a “thoroughbred professional” who has displayed consistent respect for media practitioners since his appointment by President Tinubu in August 2024.
- Distinguished Awardees: Alongside the DSS DG, other notable figures recognized for their support of the media industry included Governor Dauda Lawal (Zamfara), Governor Bassey Otu (Cross River), and the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Alhaji Mohammed Idris.
- Changing Narratives: The award underscores a reported effort by the DSS leadership to foster better communication and uphold the safety of journalists, a move praised by the steering committee of BON.
- Ministerial Commendation: Chief host Alhaji Mohammed Idris commended BON—an umbrella body for over 300 broadcast houses—for sustaining the initiative to reward professionalism and societal impact.
