Tomi Da’ Curious , Ayomide Awe
Students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic (MAPOLY) were taken beyond lecture halls and textbooks as former Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed (CON), visited the institution to present and donate his memoir, “Headlines and Sound Bites: Media Moments That Defined an Administration”
The event, which drew student attendance alongside management, staff and invited guests, offered undergraduates a rare opportunity to engage directly with a key actor in Nigeria’s recent political history. For many students, it was a live lesson on governance, media influence and the personal cost of public service.
Speaking from selected chapters of the book, Mohammed revisited the 2020 #EndSARS protests, explaining that while the movement began as a protest against police brutality, it later assumed dimensions he believes threatened national stability.
He acknowledged that lives were lost during the protests but maintained that claims of a massacre were false, noting that his position is clearly documented in the memoir now available to students.
Addressing issues familiar to young people who engage daily on social media, the former minister blamed misinformation for escalating public anger at the time.
He criticised an international media report he described as unprofessional and not based on on-the-ground investigation, saying such narratives intensified attacks against him.
Mohammed’s personal revelations resonated strongly with students.
He disclosed that his children were harassed and bullied both online and offline because of his role as government spokesperson, adding that the pressure affected his family’s businesses and safety. According to him, his wife and children repeatedly urged him to resign.
“I was already considering stepping down,” he said, “but I could not resign based on a narrative I believed was not true.”
He added that, years after the protests, no verified accounts had emerged of parents whose children attended protests and never returned.
In one of the most striking moments of the session, Mohammed revealed that he even suggested his children temporarily change their surname to shield them from attacks, a proposal that later led to a family compromise.
Beyond #EndSARS, students also heard an insider’s explanation of the 2021 Twitter suspension. Mohammed described it as one of the toughest decisions of his time in office, insisting it was taken in the interest of national cohesion and later exposed regulatory and tax compliance issues involving the platform.
Explaining why he wrote the book, Mohammed said it was meant to preserve history and help young Nigerians understand government decisions beyond viral narratives and speculation.
He noted that the memoir offers a rare account written from inside government rather than from the outside.
The visit also elevated MAPOLY’s academic profile, as the institution emerged as one of the first 20 tertiary institutions in Nigeria to receive the memoir.
The book has been deposited in the MAPOLY Library, where it will serve as reference material for students of Mass Communication, Public Administration, and related disciplines.
Speaking on behalf of the student body, Students’ Union Government (SUG) President, Comr. Sen. Temitope Afolabi, described the session as more than a book presentation.
“This is a direct transfer of experience, knowledge and a lifetime of public service to students,” he said, adding that the donation symbolises an investment in future leaders rather than immediate reward.
He praised Mohammed for contributing to youth education and national development, noting that the encounter exposed students to the realities behind policies they often debate online.
