Patrick Ikenweiwe, the Deputy Director at the Department of State Services (DSS), has proposed that first-class graduates from Nigerian universities should be required to join the secret service.
Ikenweiwe made this suggestion during his speech at the 2025 Distinguished Personality Lecture, organized by the Centre for Peace and Strategic Studies at the University of Ilorin, Kwara State, on February 13.
Representing DSS Director-General Adeola Ajayi, Ikenweiwe argued that individuals with poor academic records should not be entrusted with the responsibility of managing the nation’s security. He emphasized that academic institutions should provide their top graduates to enhance the security system.
“If it were up to me, the best graduates from every academic institution would be compelled to serve in the secret service. This is the practice in many developed nations,” Ikenweiwe said.
He cited Israel as an example, where students who score above a certain threshold are automatically required to serve in national defense.
“Tell me, how can someone with poor academic performance be expected to manage security against a criminal group made up of first-class individuals? Intelligence is essential in tracking criminal activity,” he added.
Ikenweiwe expressed hope that, with continued prayers and commitment, Nigeria’s academia could provide a steady stream of top-performing graduates to serve the country’s security needs.
