UI First Class Alumnus, Lateef Are: From Classroom Brilliance to National Ambassadorial Nomination

Lateef Kayode Are, UI First Class Alumnus, nominated as an ambassador

The nomination of Lateef Kayode Are as an ambassador has sparked conversations across security circles, academia, and diplomatic experts, all pointing to one consistent truth: education and disciplined training still remain some of Nigeria’s strongest tools for producing national leaders.

Are, born in 1955, is not new to the national spotlight. Many Nigerians remember him as the longest-serving Director-General of the State Security Service (SSS), a position he held from 1999 to 2007. However, beyond the career in the military and the intelligence files lies a remarkable academic story that many stakeholders say shaped his character and sharpened his leadership qualities.

In 1980, Are graduated with a First Class Honours degree in Psychology from the University of Ibadan (UI). Not only did he top his class, but he also emerged the best overall student in the university, sweeping major academic prizes—from the University Senate Prize to the Faculty of Social Sciences Prize and the Department of Psychology Prize.

Education experts say that when Ambassadors are well-grounded in academic excellence, it is often a sign of deep discipline and analytical strength, which can be deployed in their diplomatic duties. According to one media commentator, who was reacting to Are’s nomination, “A First Class in Psychology is not a walk in the park. It builds your mind to understand human behaviour, conflict, and strategic thinking. You can see those qualities in how Are handled national intelligence during his tenure.”

Before UI, Are had already built a foundation of discipline at the Nigerian Defence Academy, where he finished among the top ten cadets in the Regular Combatant Course 12.

His Master’s degree in International Law and Diplomacy from the University of Lagos in 1987 further expanded his worldview, preparing him for the global-facing responsibilities he would later take on—including serving as Deputy National Security Adviser and Acting National Security Adviser in 2010.

Security stakeholders describe his ambassadorial nomination as “a continuation of service, adding that Nigeria needs people whose training, education and experience cut across multiple sectors. Are represents that blend.

For many young Nigerians, Are’s journey sends a message of hope: excellence still pays, education still opens doors, and discipline—whether in the classroom or the military parade ground—remains a powerful tool for national impact.