Information Minister Hails Lai Mohammed’s Lasting Imprint On Nigeria’s Media Landscape
Nigeria’s media environment has been shaped not only by policy, but by landmark decisions that opened the country to global media engagement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, has said.
Idris made the remarks in Abuja while speaking at the public presentation of “Headlines & Soundbites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration,” a book authored by former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.
He credited his predecessor with initiating historic milestones, including Nigeria’s hosting of the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress in 2018, the first time the global gathering of editors and media leaders was held in the country.
Idris also acknowledged that the successful bid to host the UNESCO Category Two Media and Information Literacy Institute in Nigeria began under Lai Mohammed’s tenure.
According to the minister, these achievements remain under-documented yet represent watershed moments in the nation’s media history.
He noted that while he concluded the UNESCO bid recently, the foundation was firmly laid by his predecessor.
Idris described Lai Mohammed as one of the most experienced public communicators in Nigeria’s Fourth Republic, highlighting his more than ten years as an opposition spokesperson and his eight-year tenure as Minister of Information, the longest in the country’s history.
He said the role of Information Minister is particularly demanding, requiring tact, resilience and strategic communication skills to navigate sensitive national issues, adding that he continues to draw lessons from Lai Mohammed’s experience.
The minister also praised the former minister for documenting his public service journey in a book, saying it would enrich the nation’s body of knowledge and serve as a guide for future generations of public communicators.
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