Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has promised to donate copies of his book to, at least, 20 institutions of higher learning across the country.
Mohammed made the promise when he donated copies of the book, “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration”, to the library of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos.
A statement on the event was made available to newsmen by the minister on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the former minister said the initiative is informed by his decision to support research, teaching and critical inquiry in governance and strategic communication in tertiary institutions
He added that the decision was part of his commitment to scholarship and knowledge-sharing.
The former Minister said the book was written out of a strong conviction that Africans must tell their own stories from their own perspectives.
He noted that national experiences are often documented by outsiders, sometimes with distortions arising from distance, ignorance or bias.
According to him, having served for nearly eight years as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture, making him the longest-serving holder of the office, he felt a responsibility to document his experience in public service.
He described the book as an account of stewardship that chronicles key media moments, policy communications, crises, controversies and decisions that shaped public perception during the administration of late President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, *Headlines & Soundbites* is intended for students, researchers, media professionals, public relations practitioners, historians and others interested in governance, nation-building and strategic communication.
He added that book offers an insider’s perspective on government communication as practised, rather than as theory.
Mohammed expressed hope that the book would serve as a reference material, teaching aid and resource for critical engagement
He said the book would also encourage readers to interrogate narratives, seek context and appreciate the role of communication in shaping national history.
The former Minister said he was particularly pleased to donate the book to Yaba College of Technology, describing the institution as one renowned for producing practical thinkers and professionals who engage directly with societal challenges.
He emphasised that knowledge should not be confined to private collections but made available where it can be questioned, tested and applied.
The management of Yaba College of Technology received the donation with appreciation, commending the author for contributing to academic resources and supporting intellectual development within the institution.
