Lai Mohammed urges support for Tinubu on security

… Challenges Graduates to Embrace Innovation

The immediate past Minister of Information, Culture and Tourism, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has called on Nigerians to encourage the President Bola Tinubu-led administration in its ongoing efforts to tackle insecurity across the country.

Mohammed stressed that insecurity is not unique to Nigeria, describing it as a global challenge, while noting that no leader would willingly preside over an insecure nation.

He made the remarks while delivering the 15th convocation lecture of Achievers University, Owo, Ondo State, titled “Don’t Just Graduate, Innovate.”

Drawing from his experience in the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari, the former minister said security challenges require collective effort, adding that actionable local intelligence plays a crucial role in addressing them. He maintained that President Tinubu is doing his best to confront the problem, urging Nigerians to play their part.

Turning to the graduating students, Mohammed advised them not to see their academic certificates as an end in themselves but as a springboard for creativity, innovation and lifelong learning. He encouraged the new generation of graduates to embrace boldness, adaptability and continuous self-reinvention in order to remain relevant in a rapidly changing world.

According to him, failure should not be feared, as it is often a necessary step toward success. He explained that many of his own failures became turning points that shaped his career, stressing that failure is not the opposite of success but an integral part of the journey.

Mohammed further cautioned graduands against the assumption that a degree guarantees a smooth path to success, noting that the modern job market is unpredictable and increasingly influenced by technological advances such as artificial intelligence. He advised them to remain flexible and open to new opportunities as traditional career paths continue to evolve.

Also speaking at the event, the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of Council of Achievers University, Prof. Bode Ayorinde, described the lecture theme as timely and relevant. He said the institution is committed to producing disciplined graduates who are innovators rather than certificate seekers.

Ayorinde emphasised the university’s zero tolerance for indiscipline, cultism and drug abuse, noting that students found guilty of misconduct are rusticated and their fees refunded. He added that the institution rewards both students and faculty based on performance and discipline, in line with its strong academic culture.