Who is Tosin Ajayi?
Tosin Ajayi is the newly appointed Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS) in Nigeria. However, beyond his current role, Tosin Ajayi has had an illustrious career spanning over three decades in public service. In this blog post, we explore Tosin Ajayi’s background, career journey and personal life to better understand the man behind the role.
*you can check out the reasons Tinubu replaced the DSS DG*
Early Life and Education
Tosin Ajayi was born in 1965 in Lagos, Nigeria. Not much is known about his early life and family background. However, records show that Ajayi had his primary and secondary education in Lagos before proceeding to the United Kingdom for his university education.
In the UK, Ajayi studied at the University of Reading where he obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Politics and International Relations in 1987. After his undergraduate studies, Ajayi furthered his education at Cranfield University where he earned a Master’s Degree in Public Administration in 1990.
Both the University of Reading and Cranfield are prestigious universities known for their rigorous academic standards. Ajayi’s choice to study Politics and Public Administration indicated his early inclination towards public service and administration. His education in the UK no doubt exposed him to global best practices that would shape his future career.
Career in Public Service
Upon returning to Nigeria in the early 1990s, Ajayi joined the Nigerian public service. He was recruited into the State Security Service (SSS), the precursor to the current Department of State Services (DSS). Over the next three decades, Ajayi had a meteoric rise through the ranks of the security agency.
Some of the key roles and responsibilities Ajayi held in the SSS/DSS include:
- Head of operations for the Delta State Command in the late 1990s
- Director of Operations from 2002 to 2006
- Assistant Director, Professional Standards from 2006 to 2009
- Director, Joint Field Operations from 2009 to 2012
- Director, Planning, Research and Statistics from 2012 to 2015
- Director of Operations from 2015 to 2020
Throughout his years of service, Ajayi consistently handled roles with increasing responsibility, command and influence. His past stewardship of crucial departments like Operations, Planning and Professional Standards testify to his leadership competence and strategic vision.
Ajayi also developed extensive experience working closely with other security agencies both within and outside Nigeria. He represented Nigeria in international conferences and meetings on security issues across Asia, Europe and Africa.
Appointment as DG of DSS
In July 2020, Ajayi’s long career in public service culminated in his appointment as the Director General of the Department of State Services by President Muhammadu Buhari.
At age 55, Ajayi became the 20th person to head the security agency since its inception in 1986. His appointment was widely praised within national security circles given his over 30 years of dedicated service and proven track record in high-risk operations.
As DG DSS, Ajayi now oversees the entire domestic intelligence apparatus of Nigeria. The agency employs over 30,000 staff nationwide with a vast mandate spanning counterterrorism, VIP protection, cybersecurity and more. It is undoubtedly one of the most important yet low-key government roles in the country.
Leadership Style and Priorities
Since assuming the DG role, Ajayi has brought stability and continuity to the agency’s operations. He places strong emphasis on strict discipline, transparency and professionalism amongst staff. Ajayi has also taken steps to strengthen inter-agency collaboration with allied security forces.
Some of the priorities Ajayi is said to be focusing on include:
- Enhancing border security through intelligence sharing on smuggling, irregular migration and cross-border crimes
- Stepping up monitoring of Boko Haram and ISWAP activities in northern Nigeria
- Protecting critical national infrastructure from terrorism and politically-motivated sabotage
- Developing a robust cyber response capability against rising cyber threats targeting the Nigerian government and businesses
- Providing close protective security for top government officials, visiting dignitaries and VIPs
- Reforming and upgrading the agency’s operational structures, training methods and use of technology
Ajayi understands the immense responsibility of his position. However, his three decades of field experience have uniquely prepared him to navigate Nigeria’s complex security dynamics efficiently and calmly.
Personal Life
Away from his demanding career, little is known about Ajayi’s personal life and family status. Records only indicate he was previously married with children from the first union. The marriage is said to have ended in divorce sometime in the early 2010s.
It is speculated Ajayi currently lives within the secure premises of the DSS headquarters in Abuja along with other top officials for enhanced security and proximity to headquarters operations. In the little free time available, Ajayi is said to enjoy reading non-fiction books on history and political biographies.
Conclusion
Through hard work, integrity and exceptional service over 30+ years, Tosin Ajayi has risen to become Nigeria’s top internal security chief – no small feat in the competitive public sector. His impressive credentials have more than prepared him for the strategic leadership role of DG DSS.
Under Ajayi’s continued stewardship, the agency looks positioned to navigate the country’s security challenges proactively and accountably in the coming years. Only time will tell the full impact of his tenure, but early signs indicate Ajayi brings the much-needed stability and wealth of experience to optimize the evolving threats against Nigeria.
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