Former Minister of Information and Culture Alhaji Lai Mohammed has credited his ascent in Nigerian politics to a decade of vigorous opposition against the Goodluck Jonathan administration, describing the period as the crucible that forged his public persona. Delivering a convocation lecture at Achievers University in Owo, Ondo State, he urged graduates to view failure as a stepping stone to innovation and relevance.
The lecture, titled “Don’t Just Graduate, Innovate,” formed part of the institution’s 15th convocation ceremony on Friday. Mohammed, who served as national publicity secretary for the Action Congress (AC), Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and All Progressives Congress (APC) from 2006 to 2015, before becoming a minister under President Muhammadu Buhari, recounted how relentless media campaigns helped elevate the opposition’s credibility, surpassing that of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
“Between 2006 and 2015, I rose to national prominence as opposition spokesperson… by relentlessly exposing weaknesses in the ruling PDP government and shaping national discourse,” he told the audience. His team issued up to three press statements daily, supported by research, and operated as an “alternative government,” despite facing arrests, harassment, and working without remuneration. Notable incidents included detention by the Department of State Services in Osogbo and a police arrest in Lagos.
Mohammed framed perseverance as key to success: “Failure is not the opposite of success. It is part of the journey to success. You must reinvent yourself relentlessly. It is the only way to stay relevant,” he advised the graduating class. This ethos, he explained, sustained him through the PDP’s 16-year dominance until the APC’s 2015 victory.
His tenure in opposition coincided with pivotal national issues. As ACN spokesperson in 2012, Mohammed led the charge against the Jonathan government’s fuel subsidy removal, organizing nationwide protests that ultimately forced a partial policy reversal. In 2014, he spearheaded the #BringBackOurGirls campaign following the Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction, amplifying global pressure on the administration. These efforts, documented in over 5,000 press releases archived by the APC, helped erode PDP support ahead of the 2015 elections.
As minister from 2015 to 2023, Mohammed oversaw the Digital Switch-Over, launching Nigeria’s transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in 2022, and promoted the creative industry through initiatives like the N100 billion intervention fund. However, his tenure was not without controversy, including the 2021 Twitter ban and fines imposed on broadcast stations for their coverage of the #EndSARS protests.
University officials also reinforced the theme of innovation. Pro-Chancellor Professor Bode Ayorinde revealed that two students had recently been expelled for academic failure and misconduct, with fees refunded. “We don’t sell certificates. Our culture here is academic discipline—no drug abuse, no cultism,” he said, emphasizing the importance of performance and discipline in faculty evaluations.
Acting Vice-Chancellor Professor Oyesoji Aremu praised the relevance of Mohammed’s lecture, particularly amid graduate unemployment, which the National Bureau of Statistics estimates at 33.3 percent for those aged 15–24 in Q3 2025. “At Achievers University, we always graduate students who can innovate after graduation,” he said.
The event awarded degrees to 496 graduates, including 18 first-class honours, and conferred honorary doctorates on business leaders Chief Segun Ajayi and Dr. Allen Onyema. Founded in 2007 by the late Dr. Bode Ayorinde, the university has produced over 5,000 alumni, with 85 percent employed or furthering their studies within six months, according to its 2025 tracer study.
