The former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has donated copies of his book: Headlines and Sound Bites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration, to the Library of Yaba College of Technology (YABATECH), Lagos in furtherance of scholarship, knowledge sharing and historical documentation.
Speaking during the presentation to the Rector and Management of the College, Mohammed described the donation as part of his modest contribution to academic development and a broader initiative to donate the book to at least 20 institutions of higher learning across Nigeria.
According to him, the book was written out of a strong conviction that Africans must tell their own stories from their own perspectives, rather than rely on external narratives that are often distorted by distance, bias or lack of context.
“Too often, our national experiences are documented by others. We owe it to ourselves and to posterity to create our own historical records,” he said.
Mohammed, who served for nearly eight years as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture in the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari, making him the longest-serving occupant of the office, explained that the book is an account of stewardship.
He noted that Headlines and Sound Bites chronicles key media moments, policy communications, crises, controversies and decisions that shaped public perception during the Buhari administration.
He added that the publication was written for students, researchers, media professionals, public relations practitioners, historians and policy analysts, offering an insider’s perspective on governance and strategic communication in practice, rather than theory.
The former minister also used the occasion to caution against the dangers of misinformation, disinformation and fake news, drawing from his experiences managing government communication during periods of national security challenges.
He emphasised the importance of first-hand information, responsible messaging and context in shaping public understanding and preventing panic.
Responding to the donation, the Rector of Yaba College of Technology, Dr. Ibraheem Abdul, expressed profound appreciation to Mohammed for the gesture, describing it as timely, inspiring and intellectually enriching for the College community.
The Rector noted that YABATECH has always valued the interface between academia and experienced practitioners, stressing that beyond classroom instruction, inspiration drawn from those who have served at the highest levels of national responsibility plays a critical role in shaping students’ mindsets and future aspirations.
He commended the former minister for documenting his experiences in public service, describing the book as a valuable document of posterity that would serve as a rich resource for students, lecturers and researchers in the fields of media studies, public relations, governance and national development.
Delivering the vote of thanks, the Dean, School of Liberal Studies, Mrs. Abosede Ogunnaike, thanked Mohammed on behalf of the Governing Council, management, staff and students of the College for the donation and his continued engagement with YABATECH.
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