Former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has announced plans to donate copies of his book, Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments that Defined an Administration, to at least 20 tertiary institutions across Nigeria.
Mohammed made the pledge during the donation of copies of the book to the library of Yaba College of Technology, Lagos. A statement on the event was released to journalists on Wednesday in Abuja.
According to the statement, the former minister said the initiative was aimed at supporting research, teaching and critical inquiry in governance and strategic communication within higher institutions. He described the gesture as part of his broader commitment to scholarship and knowledge-sharing.
Mohammed explained that the book was written out of a conviction that Africans must document and tell their own stories from their perspectives, noting that national narratives are often shaped by outsiders, sometimes with inaccuracies arising from bias or limited understanding.
Having served for nearly eight years as Nigeria’s Minister of Information and Culture — the longest tenure in the office — Mohammed said he felt a responsibility to document his experiences in public service.
He described the book as a record of stewardship that captures major media moments, policy communications, crises, controversies and key decisions that shaped public perception during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
According to him, Headlines & Soundbites is designed for students, researchers, media practitioners, public relations professionals and historians interested in governance, nation-building and strategic communication. He added that the book offers an insider’s view of government communication in practice, rather than theory.
Mohammed expressed hope that the book would serve as a reference material and teaching aid, while encouraging readers to critically examine narratives, seek context and better understand the role of communication in shaping national history.
He said he was particularly pleased to donate the book to Yaba College of Technology, describing the institution as one known for producing practical-minded professionals who engage directly with societal challenges. He stressed that knowledge should be accessible, questioned and applied, rather than confined to private collections.
The management of Yaba College of Technology received the donation with appreciation and commended the former minister for contributing to academic resources and supporting intellectual development within the institution.