The Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, has congratulated his Media Aide and security journalist, Mayor Oki O. Samson, on his recognition as a Police-Youth Advocate by the Lagos State Police Command. Oki Samson who also doubles as the President of the National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP), received the honour on Thursday, August 27, 2026, during the Command’s commemoration of International Youth Day 2026 at the Police Officers’ Wives Association (POWA) Secretariat in Lagos.
The recognition came against the backdrop of growing concerns over youth vulnerability to political manipulation, digital misinformation, cultism and other forms of insecurity, with the Police using the occasion to deepen engagement between law enforcement and young Nigerians.
Reacting to the honour, Ogunsan commended Oki Samson for consistently deploying his media platforms and professional experience to promote responsible security reporting, youth development, advocacy and constructive engagement between security agencies and the public. He also thanked him for his invaluable contributions to the great work at LSSTF.
While congratulating him, Ogunsan described the recognition as a fitting acknowledgement of Samson’s commitment to using communication as an instrument for public safety and social development. “This recognition is well deserved because Oki has consistently demonstrated that the media can do much more than report security challenges; it can help build understanding, trust and stronger relationships between security institutions and the communities they serve,” Ogunsan said.
He further encouraged the LSSTF’s Media aide to see the honour not merely as a personal achievement but as a call to greater responsibility, particularly at a time when young Nigerians wield enormous influence through digital platforms. “As you receive this honour, I urge you to remain committed to the values that brought you this far. Continue to use your voice to educate, inspire and encourage our young people to choose peace, responsible citizenship and a better future,” Ogunsan added.
The Lagos Police Command’s International Youth Day programme also featured the launch of the National Campaign Against Political and Digital Thuggery and a Police-Youth Dialogue designed to build stronger partnerships between law enforcement and young Nigerians. The initiative, in line with the vision of Inspector-General of Police, IGP Olatunji Rilwan Disu, placed youth participation, responsible citizenship and peacebuilding at the centre of contemporary security discourse with stakeholders drawn from the military, paramilitary agencies, youth organisations, transport unions, the media and community groups.
The event reinforced the emerging understanding that securing Nigeria’s future requires more than conventional policing. It demands sustained investment in young people, responsible journalism, digital citizenship and partnerships capable of building trust between citizens and security institutions.
Earlier at the event, the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Tijani Fatai warned young people against allowing politicians to exploit them for electoral violence as the country approaches another election cycle. Fatai said youths must look beyond immediate gratification and recognise the importance of preserving their future.
“Tomorrow is there for us. We should not think of today. We should always think of tomorrow. That tomorrow is more important than what we are today.”
The CP also delivered a particularly strong message against the recruitment of young Nigerians into political thuggery, noting that political actors rarely expose their own children to the dangers of electoral violence. “None of these politicians will use any of their children for electioneering, thuggery, violence or what have you.”
He urged youths to reject attempts to use them for ballot-box snatching, intimidation, destruction of property and other forms of electoral violence, while stressing that political participation remained a legitimate right when exercised responsibly.
The Commissioner equally identified the digital environment as an emerging frontier of security, urging young Nigerians to think carefully before posting, sharing or reacting to provocative content. His message was clear: political participation must never become political violence, whether offline or online.
Meanwhile, in his goodwill message, Commander, 9 Brigade, Nigerian Army, Brigadier General Ayokunle Owolabi, described the campaign as timely and commended the Police for strengthening engagement with young Nigerians. Owolabi noted that the energy, creativity and resilience of young people remained indispensable to Nigeria’s peace, security and development. He emphasised that national security could no longer be regarded as the exclusive responsibility of security agencies, but required a whole-of-society approach in which young Nigerians become active partners. He particularly warned against the misuse of digital platforms and physical spaces for violence, intimidation, misinformation and destructive engagement, while calling for stronger trust and communication between young people and security institutions.
The well attended event attracted representatives of the Nigerian Army, Nigerian Air Force, Nigerian Navy, NDLEA, FRSC and NSCDC, alongside NYSC, POCACOV, PCRC, NYCN, NANS, NURTW, RTEAN, CRAN, NAOSNP, POWA and youths from Police Barracks across Lagos. The programme featured an extensive Police-Youth Dialogue on security, political participation, social media, cultism, thuggery and emerging threats.
The recognition of Mayor Oki Samson as Police-Youth Advocate therefore represented more than an individual honour. It underscored the growing importance of credible voices capable of connecting young people, the media and security institutions around a shared commitment to peace.
For Ogunsan, the recognition of the journalist represents both an honour and a responsibility. It also places greater expectations on the media to remain a credible bridge between security agencies and the Nigerian public.
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