…donates book on media and nation-building to YABATECH
Lai Mohammed, former minister of information and culture, has urged Africans to take ownership of their narratives by actively documenting their own histories, emphasising the importance of first-hand information, responsible messaging and context in shaping public understanding and preventing panic.
Mohammed disclosed this while donating 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.
“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.
The former Nigerian minister speaking during the presentation of the books to the rector and management of the college, 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.
Mohammed, who served for nearly eight years as Nigeria’s minister of information and culture under 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.
Besides, he said 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.
He urged students and young professionals to interrogate narratives critically, seek the truth and appreciate the power of communication in shaping national history, stressing that knowledge must not remain on private shelves but should be accessible where it can be questioned, tested and applied.
Ibraheem Abdul, the rector of Yaba College of Technology, responding to the donation, 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.
Abdul further assured the donor that the book would be well utilised within the college’s academic ecosystem, adding that it would strengthen teaching, learning and research, while exposing students to real-life perspectives on leadership, communication and nation-building.
Abosede Ogunnaike, the dean at the School of Liberal Studies, applauded Mohammed on behalf of the governing council, management, staff and students of the college for the donation and his continued engagement with YABATECH.
She described the visit as highly motivating for the College community, particularly the students, noting that the donation would remain a lasting intellectual legacy. She also appreciated the Rector and Management for creating the enabling environment to host such impactful academic engagements.
The event featured an interactive session with students and staff, reinforcing YABATECH’s commitment to enriching its library resources and exposing its learners to practical insights on media, governance and nation-building.
