Personality in Focus
Ondo 2024: Amotekun Assures Security Outside Election Area
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The Ondo state gubernatorial election which has gathered a lot of attention over the past months is now less than 30 days. The fears of Ondo state indigenes and residents and of course, watchers from outside the state is mostly about maintaining peace, security, law, and order before, during, and after the elections.
The Ondo State Security Network (codenamed AMOTEKUN) has proven to be a force for good in the state since its establishment four (4) years ago by the late and former Governor, Arakunrin Oluwarotimi Akeredolu. The man saddled with the responsibility of leading the AMOTEKUN Corps, Corps Commander Adetunji Adeleye is assuring all Nigerians that his men will provide adequate supporting roles to the primary security agencies in charge of elections in Nigeria. He made this known in an exclusive interview with the security beats association, National Association of Online Security News Publishers (NAOSNP) led by the National President, Oki O. Samson during the association’s visit to the Amotekun Headquarters for a firsthand assessment tour of the security situation in the state ahead of the 16th November governorship election.
On the role that the AMOTEKUN Corps will play in the forthcoming elections, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye who doubles as the Chairman of Council of AMOTEKUN Corps Commanders in the Southwest (comprising Ekiti, Osun, Oyo, Ogun, and Ondo states) assured that his agency will play by the rules and be alive to its responsibility outside of the election arena. He noted: ‘This is not the first election that Amotekun will partake in. But we do know that mainly for elections, other security agencies like the Nigeria Police, the Civil Defence, the DSS, and so on will move in en masse. In fact, they bring officers and men from other states to ensure security during elections, so the house is open.’
‘But in the background we provide security, outside the election arena, on the routes, and on the road. We instruct our men that they are not to partake fully but to provide external security and ensure that all those places where policemen, Civil Defence, DSS, soldiers are not present, they should make sure there is no vacuum. When it is time to move election materials, we also provide support and any other places where the sister agencies need our collaborative effort we will gladly assist.’
The hardworking Corps Commander of the Ondo State AMOTEKUN Corps added: ‘I want to assure residents of Ondo State that the election is going to be peaceful. They should conduct themselves in a peaceful way. This is no longer the trend for thuggery during election, no it is gone.’
‘I want to tell the youths that they should comport themselves in a peaceful way. They should not allow any politician to use them as instruments to foment trouble because when the trouble comes, you alone will go to jail. They will not even want you to mention their name because of their personality. So somebody who will not put his child to go and become a thug, why is he paying you 10 kobo to become a thug, it doesn’t make sense.’
‘Our youths should be well informed, you cannot be used as a political thug and the law enforcement agencies will be there, not only Amotekun, all security agencies are there to ensure the election is conducted in a totally peaceful atmosphere.’
On how they recruit and train members of the AMOTEKUN Corps, Akogun Adetunji Adeleye hinted: ‘We don’t joke with our trainings because that is the only way we can be sure that we keep tabs on the modern trends. If you observe when you came in, we do our security review of the whole state twice a day. We do it every morning and every night. By 9-11am, 12 midnight we go on patrol everyday including Sundays.’
‘We have duty officers who have their roles to play, we have drones and equipment for tracking. We do our own tracking and we also have the DSS tracking with us. Those are some of the things that get us on top of the security situation.’
On what he personally does as the Head of the very effective and highly praised AMOTEKUN Corps in Ondo State, Adetunji Adeleye said: ‘It is 24 hours, physically I’m in the office for 18 hours everyday. I pick a senatorial district to go round the metropolis. If I’m going to the North today, I go from here to Oka, Isua and come back by 5 am. Tomorrow it could be South, third day it could be Central. That’s what I do, so there’s no way you will get to the AMOTEKUN post that you will not meet them there because they will not know when I’ll come, and they know the implications. If I meet you sleeping you go to jail, that’s why people are sleeping with their two eyes closed in Ondo state.’
President Bola Tinubu has sent warm greetings to the Executive Secretary/CEO of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, on the occasion of his 50th birthday on October 6, 2026.
In a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President (Information and Strategy), Bayo Onanuga, the President indicated acknowledged Dr. Ogunsan’s commitment to institution-building and promoting partnerships among government, the private sector, and other stakeholders to advance security and development.
Tinubu also commended the celebrant for his dedication to serving Lagos State and his contributions toward strengthening the security architecture, public safety, and public confidence through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
Before becoming the Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ogunsan served on the Board of Trustees of the LSSTF. He has held other significant responsibilities in the security and community-safety space, including as Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV), Lagos State, and Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC).
The President noted that under Dr. Ogunsan’s leadership, the Trust Fund has continued to play an important role in supporting security agencies with critical equipment, infrastructure and other resources necessary to enhance their effectiveness in protecting lives and property.
“As you mark this significant milestone, I urge you to sustain your dedication to the security and progress of Lagos State and Nigeria. I wish you many more years of good health, wisdom and fulfilment, as well as continued success in your service to humanity and our nation,” the President charged.
The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has congratulated the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF), Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, on his 50th birthday.
Governor Sanwo-Olu, in a statement issued on Monday by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Gboyega Akosile, described Ogunsan, an entrepreneur and security expert, as a seasoned administrator and a dedicated, passionate public official.
The Governor praised Ogunsan for his transformational leadership and dedication, which have significantly impacted the Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) since he assumed office as Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer in October 2025.
He said: “On behalf of my family, the government, and the people of Lagos State, I congratulate the Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund, Dr. Ayo Ogunsan, on his 50th birthday.
“Dr. Ogunsan is a seasoned administrator who has used his knowledge and experience to bring about transformation in the security sector through the Lagos State Security Trust Fund.
“I commend Dr. Ogunsan for his leadership and commitment in different capacities. He has contributed positively towards the improvement of security as Chairman of the Police Campaign Against Cultism and Other Vices (POCACOV) in Lagos State, Patron of the Police Community Relations Committee (PCRC), member of the Board of Trustees, and now Executive Secretary and Chief Executive Officer of LSSTF.
“As Dr Ayo Ogunsan celebrates his Golden Jubilee, I pray that the Almighty God continues to bestow upon him wisdom and knowledge to steer the ship of the Lagos State Security Trust Fund and render more service to humanity and our dear Lagos State.”
Association of Corporate Communication and Marketing Professionals in Banks (ACAMB) has marked 30 years of shaping narratives and building trust in Nigeria’s banking industry, with regulators and industry leaders calling on communication professionals to make credibility, clarity, Innovation and ethical conduct central to the future of financial services.
The association celebrated the milestone at an anniversary gala night in Lagos on September 30, 2026, bringing together, senior officials of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN), the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), United Bank for Africa (UBA), Optimus Bank and industry leaders alongside communication and marketing heads, from banks across the country.
Speaking at the event, President of ACAMB, Jide Sipe, said, over three decades, the association has played and continued to play a critical role in helping banks communicate with the public, manage crises and protect institutional reputation.
“For 30 years, our members have stood between the banks and the public they serve. They explain policy, manage crises and protect reputations, often under intense pressure and in real time,” Sipe said.
“We have remained consistent, from gatekeepers to strategic drivers in actualising growth, positive brand perception, aligning business values to customer needs, customer satisfaction and loyalty”
All this have to great extent catalysed the growth trajectory of the financial sector and to that, we feel a sense of pride, worthy of celebration,
He said the association would continue to strengthen the capacity of its members as the communications profession evolves, with greater focus on artificial intelligence, data and digital media, as well as mentorship for young professionals entering the industry.
“Though the tools have changed since 1996, but the mandate remains same. We continue to earn trust, one credible message at a time, and we will guard it with the same discipline for the next 30 years and beyond,” he added.
While giving his address, Chairman of the occasion and 24th President of CIBN, Dele Alabi, described ACAMB’s 30-year journey as a testament to perseverance, professionalism and one that made far reaching impact the financial services industry should be proud of.
Alabi, who also commended Sipe’s leadership and recalled their years together at Ecobank Group, said ACAMB had helped strengthen communication, reputation and trust across the banking sector.
“Thirty years of shaping narratives and building trust reflects ACAMB’s critical role in strengthening communication, enhancing reputation and fostering trust across the financial services industry,” he said.
He urged communication professionals to embrace innovation without compromising ethics, in line with the CIBN’s IMPACT vision, which is built around inclusion, membership, professionalism and ethical conduct, accountability, competences & skills, and technology.
Representing the Deputy Governor of the CBN, Philip Ikeazor, the Acting Director, Corporate Communications and Investor Relations, Hakama Sidi Ali, said the banking industry was moving beyond stabilisation towards broader institutional transformation.
She challenged communication professionals to prioritise clarity over cleverness and to view customers as the ultimate test of the effectiveness and credibility of their communication.
“The credibility you carry into a crisis is built in quiet periods,” she said.
Delivering the keynote address, Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NIBSS, Premier Oiwoh, said the growth of digital banking had made trust even more critical, as financial services increasingly moved to mobile and digital platforms.
He noted that NIBSS had built Africa’s first mature instant payment system 15 years ago, adding that the evolution of digital banking had made trust a fundamental requirement for the continued growth of the financial system.
“Banking is all about trust. Without trust, banking cannot stand,” Oiwoh said.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Group Managing Director/CEO of UBA, Oliver Alawuba, the bank’s Group Head, Marketing and Corporate Communications, Alero Ladipo, commended ACAMB for creating a platform that brings communication professionals together across competing institutions.
“Thirty years is more than a milestone. It is evidence of relevance, resilience and the ability to evolve,” Ladipo said.
She noted that while banks compete in the market, communication professionals have a shared responsibility to strengthen confidence in the banking industry and maintain public trust in the financial system.
“Competition may separate us in the market, but there are moments when the industry must speak with a shared sense of responsibility,” she added.
Managing Director/CEO, Optimus Bank, Ademola Odeyemi, also commended ACAMB for it’s yeoman contributions over the years and shared vision, it has continued to effectively articulate on behalf of the banks, a feat that has helped the financial sector thrive collectively.
The anniversary celebration also featured networking sessions and recognition of professionals who have contributed to the growth of banking communication in Nigeria over the past three decades.
