Nigeria's Former Minister of Information and Culture , Alhaji Lai Mohammed has stressed the need for those managing information in government at both federal and State levels to always be proactive and not reactive, so as to prevent the spread of fake news or false narrative on social media platforms and in the public
Lai Mohammed who as served in the cabinet of the immediate past administration of late president, Mohammadu Buhari between 2015 and 2023, was speaking on Thursday during a formal presentation and donation of copies of his books titled "Headline and Soundbites : Media Moments that Defined an Administration", to the library of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic MAPOLY in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital
He said communication in the digital era should be seen as fundamentally different from what obtained in the past, emphasizing the need for those serving as communication managers in government to always communicate with the people
He maintained that doing this, will enable them to receive instant feedback from the people
"They cannot afford to sit back and rely solely on press releases. They must be proactive rather than reactive. They must be agenda-setters who take control of the narrative", he stated
The former Minister in the book, shared his experiences of how he was able to manage narrative, particularly on the issue of Boko haram insurgency whom many still believed were in control of several parts of Borno State as at 2015 and the government prompt response to the case of 110 schoolgirls who were kidnapped by terrorists in Dapchi, Yobe State on February 2018
He maintained that journalists and rights activists were also carried along by the administration to visit scenes of incidents to appreciate efforts being made to address these security challenges and push the correct information to the public
The former Minister described the book which has twenty chapters and 600 pages as his modest contribution to scholarship and knowledge-sharing
" It is also part of a broader initiative I am leading, the Reading Sessions Project, which is aimed at strengthening reading culture, critical thinking and intellectual engagement among undergraduate students across Nigeria’s tertiary institutions, "he said
The former Minister listed MAPOLY among 20 tertiary institutions in the country receiving the book since his Reading Session Project was launched at Yaba College of Technology Lagos on December 24, 2025 and the launch of the book in Abuja on December 17, 2025
He challenged those who had served at the highest levels of government to always tell their stories themselves to inspire next generation of young Nigerians
"Nigeria’s contemporary history will remain incomplete unless those who were opportune to serve at the highest levels of government tell their stories. This book, therefore, is my own contribution to Nigeria’s contemporary history, from an insider’s perspective.
It is not merely a documentation of my time as the longest-serving Minister of Information and Culture, it is the account of someone who was consistently in the engine room of government between 2015 and 2023.", he added
"My hope is that the book will serve as reference material, a teaching aid and a resource for critical inquiry. More importantly, I hope it encourages students and scholars to interrogate narratives, seek context and appreciate the power of communication in shaping national history"
"It gives me great joy, therefore, to place this book in the library of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic. This donation aligns with my belief that knowledge should not sit on private shelves, but should live where it can be questioned, tested and applied, such as the library of this great institution', he concluded
Responding, Chairman of Governing Council of MAPOLY, Emeritus Professor Kamal'deen Balogun and Rector, Dr(Arc.) koye Joloaoso in their separate remarks, appreciated the former Minister for listing the polytechnic among tertiary institutions benefiting from the donation of the book
They assured him that copies of the book would be in the institution's library for students to read to encourage them and revive the dying reading culture among students in the country
According to them, the book would be useful for researchers and communication experts to use as reference material for research purposes
President of the Student Union Government, Comrade Temitope Afolabi also appreciated the minister for the donation of copies of the book to the school library, assuring him that the students will read the book to tap from his rich knowledge as the longest serving Minister of Information and Culture in the political history of the country
Principal officers of the polytechnic Directors of Schools and Heads Of Departments , General Manager of Radio Nigeria -Paramount 94.5 FM Abeokuta, Mrs Oluremi Olugbenro who is a product of the polytechnic, students amongst others witnessed the presentation and donation of the book to the polytechnic's library
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