Former Minister of Information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, says the bold stance he took in criticising the administration of former President Goodluck Jonathan played a major role in shaping his political career and national visibility.
Mohammed made the remark on Friday while delivering the convocation lecture at Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, as part of activities marking the institution’s 15th convocation ceremony. His lecture was titled “Don’t Just Graduate, Innovate.”
Addressing the graduating students, the former minister urged them not to fear failure, stressing that persistence and reinvention were key to long-term success. He recalled that these principles guided him during his years as opposition spokesperson, especially at a time when the Peoples Democratic Party dominated the political space.
“Failure is not the opposite of success; it is part of the journey,” he said. “You must keep reinventing yourself to remain relevant.”
Mohammed noted that between 2006 and 2015, he rose to national prominence through dogged research-based media engagements while serving as spokesperson for the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and later the All Progressives Congress (APC). According to him, his frequent press briefings and media statements sometimes issued multiple times in one daynhelped shape public discourse and challenge the then-ruling PDP government.
He recounted facing harassment and arrests along the way, including separate detentions by the DSS in Osogbo and the police in Lagos, but insisted that he remained undeterred. “Our fearlessness and innovation made us powerful. I could not be intimidated,” he added.
In his remarks, the Pro-Chancellor of Achievers University, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, said the institution maintains strict disciplinary and academic standards. He revealed that two students were recently expelled for poor academic conduct.
“We do not sell certificates. Discipline is our culture, no drug abuse, no cultism,” Ayorinde said, adding that faculty members are assessed based on performance and discipline.
Also speaking, the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oyesoji Aremu, praised Mohammed’s lecture, noting that its message aligns with the university’s commitment to producing graduates who can innovate and create opportunities for themselves.
“At Achievers University, we ensure our graduates leave with skills that enable them to innovate after graduation,” he said.
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