In a historic move, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has appointed Folashade Adekaiyaoja as the first female Deputy Director General of the Department of State Services (DSS). This landmark appointment is part of a broader effort to enhance the agency’s structure and efficiency, aligning with the original organogram of the Service.
Sources revealed that the DSS hierarchy is designed to include three Deputy Directors General, a structure that this appointment solidifies. The decision, recommended by the DSS Director-General and approved through the National Security Adviser (NSA), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, mark a significant shift in the agency’s history.
Adekaiyaoja, a native of Kogi State, is celebrated by her peers for her qualifications and leadership capabilities. Her appointment is seen as a step toward improving career progression within the Service, fostering morale among officers and operatives.
President Tinubu, committed to enhancing national security, has tasked security agency heads with developing proposals to improve service delivery. This appointment is one of the measures aimed at achieving that goal. At a recent ceremony for the National Institute for Security Studies (NISS) graduates, Tinubu reiterated his support for integrating state-of-the-art, AI-powered equipment to combat insecurity.
The DSS Director-General, Mr. Oluwatosin Ajayi, who assumed office in August 2024, had pledged comprehensive reforms to position the DSS as one of the world’s most efficient covert security agencies. This appointment of Adekaiyaoja is seen as a pivotal step in that transformation.
