Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, on Thursday donated copies of his book, “Headlines and Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration,” to the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY), library in Abeokuta.
Mohammed, who made the donation during an event held at the institution, described the gesture as his contribution to scholarship, knowledge-sharing and intellectual development within Nigeria’s tertiary education system.
He said the donation was part of a broader initiative known as the Reading Sessions Project, aimed at strengthening reading culture, critical thinking, and intellectual engagement among undergraduate students across the country.
According to him, the project was launched on Dec. 24, 2025, at Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, following the official launch of the book in Abuja on Dec. 17, 2025.
The former minister explained that interactions around the book at various institutions formed a critical component of the reading sessions project, which sought to encourage informed discussions on governance, communication and nation-building.
He said that he wrote the book because Nigeria’s contemporary history would remain incomplete unless those who served at the highest levels of government documented their experiences.
He described the publication as his personal contribution to Nigeria’s contemporary history, offering an insider’s perspective of governance between 2015 and 2023, when he served as the longest-serving minister of information and culture.
He clarified that the 600 pages and 20 chapters book was not written to defend the Buhari administration, saying that while in office he had already presented the administration’s scorecards and achievements through various platforms.
“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.
“Some have asked whether the book is an attempt to defend the Buhari Administration. The answer is no. While in office, I did enough of that,” he said.
Mohammed said the book also examined the changing nature of communication in the digital era, stressing that political communication now required proactive engagement and constant feedback rather than reliance on press releases alone.
He explained that information managers in government must operate differently from other cabinet members, saying they serve as the mirror through which the administration is reflected to the public and the world.
He said that some chapters in the book also talked about the misinformation during the “EndSARS” saga and reasons why the federal government suspended Twitter operation in Nigeria.
The former minister cited instances of proactive narrative management, including leading local and international journalists to Boko Haram–liberated areas in Borno state in 2015, which he said helped correct misinformation about the security situation.
He added that the book was written for researchers, students, media professionals, public relations practitioners and historians, expressing hope that it would serve as a reference material and teaching aid.
He expressed delight at placing the book in the library of the Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, stressing that knowledge should be accessible for questioning, testing and application in academic environments.
In his remarks, MAPOLY Rector, Dr Koyejo Jolaoso, appreciated the former minister for recognising the institution, noting that it showed that MAPOLY was still on the map of reference.
“We appreciate you for your role in nation building. This donation goes a long way towards the development of humanity,” he said.
