By Florence Israel, Abuja
The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has intimated that the Federal Government and the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) are set to partner in order to take the “Change Begins With Me” campaign to the universities across the country.
In a statement made available to The DEFENDER on Wednesday, the Minister, while receiving the leadership of NANS on courtesy call to his office in Abuja, said that the Nigerian students was vital instrument in ensuring success of the “Change Begins With Me” in the country.
“I think the biggest news you have given me today is your readiness to work with us on the ‘Change Begins With Me’. I see ‘Change Begins With Me’ as the greatest legacy this government can leave and it is not by accident that our campaign is largely centered around students. We have about seven themes that concentrate only on students. I remember very well about the one that says that ‘I will not sell my body for marks’, which reflects the campaign on moral rebirth.”
“Change Begins With Me”, the minister continued, is attitudinal adding that, ”We must change our ways of doing things starting from punctuality, honesty, integrity, and industry. We have to change the way we do things in such a manner that will benefit everybody. We cannot be doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result”, he said.
The Minister, in his acknowledgement of NANS’ commendation of the Federal Government for the rescue of 82 Chibok schoolgirls, Alhaji Lai Mohammed said, “What is unique about the release of these 82 girls is that it’s only a phase and we are already working towards the release of even more girls. But we have gone beyond looking at the release of these girls, we are looking at total restoration of peace all over the North East and by extension all over Nigeria.”
On economic recovery, the Minister, who has believed that no economic recovery can can be achieved in situation of deepening corruption, said government was focused on fighting corruption and diversifying the economy away from oil in order to insulate the country from the volatility of crude oil prices crippled by the crash in crude oil prices and unbridled corruption.
Continuing, he assured that Nigeria would soon come out of recession, enthusing it was a possible feat to make due to what he described as creative approach adopted by the Muhammadu Buhari Administration toward the restoration of the economy.
Earlier, the leader of NANS, Comrade Aruna Kadiri, commended the Minister for working hard to bridge the communication gap between the government and the people and also promised that the students’ body had resolved to partner with the Federal Government in the national re-orientation campaign, tagged, “Change Begins With Me”.
Comrade Kadiri said the had Nigerian Students had so resolved following its conviction that the campaign would be more effective and far reaching if driven students and ordinary Nigerians were its major drivers.
