DSS Director-General Advocates Mandatory Recruitment of First-Class Graduates to Boost National Security
Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has proposed a compulsory national policy to recruit first-class graduates into the intelligence agenc
Okoro David Emeka 
The Director-General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, has proposed a compulsory national policy to recruit first-class graduates into the intelligence agency, citing the need to combat sophisticated criminal networks with exceptional intellect. The call was made during the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture at the University of Ilorin’s Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies.
Delivering a lecture titled The Roles of the DSS in Security, Peacekeeping, and National Integration,Ajayi emphasized the urgent need to overhaul recruitment strategies in security agencies. Represented by DSS Deputy Director Mr. Patrick Ikenweiwe, he argued that Nigeria should adopt a model akin to Israel’s selective university admission system, where top-performing students are mandated to serve national institutions.
“In Israel, students who score above 70% in a critical examination are automatically channeled into universities and national service. We must replicate this rigor to ensure our security agencies are powered by the best minds,” Ajayi stated.
The DG stressed that modern security challenges—including terrorism, cybercrime, and economic sabotage—demand superior intellectual capacity. “How can a ‘Dundee’ [dullard] counter criminal networks composed of first-class graduates? It takes intellect to track criminality,” he asserted. Ajayi urged Nigerian academia to disclose details of top-performing graduates, whom he believes should be “compelled to serve the nation” through agencies like the DSS.
Ajayi also addressed the adversarial public perception of security agencies, noting that distrust hampers intelligence gathering and peacebuilding efforts. “When citizens view security bodies as enemies rather than allies, collaboration breaks down, undermining national integration,” he warned.
Deputy Director Ikenweiwe, expanding on the DG’s remarks, highlighted Nigeria’s shifting security landscape. Traditional threats like espionage and sabotage have morphed into complex crises, including insurgency, separatist agitations, and cybercrime. He reiterated that recruiting elite graduates would equip the DSS to innovate and adapt to these challenges.
The lecture underscored the need for stronger collaboration between universities and security agencies. Ajayi’s proposal has sparked debates on balancing compulsory service with career freedoms, though many attendees acknowledged the potential benefits of injecting academic excellence into national security frameworks.
If adopted, the policy could redefine career pathways for top graduates while addressing critical gaps in Nigeria’s security architecture. Stakeholders, however, await concrete legislative or administrative steps to translate the proposal into action.
The DSS urges public cooperation and a mindset shift, emphasizing that “national security is a collective responsibility.”
