AANI pledges to partner DSS on National security
By SADIQ ABUBAKAR, Maiduguri –
The President of the Alumni Association of the National Institute (AANI), Ambassador E.O. Okafor has pledged to strengthen institutional ties and explore avenues for collaboration with the Department of State Security Services (DSS) to address Nigeria’s pressing security challenges.
Ambassador Okafor started this when he led a delegation of the association’s Executive Committee on a courtesy visit to the Director-General of the Department of State Services (DG DSS), Mr. Adeola Oluwatosin Ajayi at the DSS Headquarters Abuja.
Speaking at the occasion, the AANI president thanked the DG, DSS for the warm reception accorded them.
Amb. Okafor in a statement issued and signed by the AANI National Publicity Secretary, Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) and made available to newsmen in Maiduguri, congratulated the DG on his recent appointment, describing it as a recognition of his professionalism, wealth of experience, and dedication to duty.
The President, further, assured AANI’s commitment to national development and elaborated on the association’s rich pool of professionals across sectors, particularly in defence and security.
Amb. Okafor also proposed partnerships with the DSS in areas such as capacity building, research-driven policy advisory, and strategic collaboration to support the Service in fulfilling its mandate.
He added that “AANI remains a reservoir of expertise,” Ambassador Okafor also stated, “With a membership spanning diverse fields and a strong foundation in leadership and policy strategy, we are ready to partner with the DSS to achieve greater national security outcomes.”
In his remark, the DSS boss expressed deep appreciation for the visit and commended AANI for its contributions to national development and leadership excellence.
He acknowledged the unique value of AANI members, many of whom have backgrounds in defence and intelligence, and described the association as a critical partner in the nation’s security architecture.
The DG further highlighted on the need to integrate the findings and recommendations of research conducted at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) Kuru.
He noted also their relevance in addressing contemporary security challenges in the country, such as ungoverned spaces and social injustice.
“AANI’s research outputs are a treasure trove that can significantly enhance the fight against insecurity if fully utilised,” Ajayi said.
He also pledged his commitment to fostering collaboration and leveraging AANI’s insights to strengthen the DSS’ strategies and operations.
The visit was attended by notable AANI members, including: Mrs. Olufunke Amos, AANI Vice President; a former President of the association; Engineer (Dr) Mohammed Gambo Umar, Turakin Bauchi; Alhaji Abubakar Ismail Isah Funtua .
Others include AANI Secretary General; Alhaji Samaila Umar Sifawa, AANI National Treasurer; Brigadier General SK Usman (rtd) , National Publicity Secretary; and Dr. Babatunde Moses Kayode, Assistant Secretary-General; Dr Gado Shehu, FCT AANI Chapter Secretary General; and Alhaji Muhammad Nasir Ladan , the Director of Administration at AANI National Secretariat, Abuja.
The DSS delegation included senior officials who are members of the Services’ Management Team.
The meeting underscored the importance of fostering partnerships between institutions to achieve shared goals of peace, security, and national development. Both parties reiterated their commitment to working collaboratively to strengthen Nigeria’s security framework for a better and more stable society.