The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has appealed to university teachers across the country to join the ongoing war against corruption by making their voices heard.
The Minister made the call when he paid a courtesy visit to the Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Rahamon Bello, just before he delivered a paper at the Gani Fawehenmi Students Chambers Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Symposium held at the university on Friday.
“I implore you to join the current debate on the war against corruption. Corruption is the single most debilitating factor other than insecurity in Nigeria today. We have lost lives, we have lost an economy because of corruption,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed said that by virtue of their research work and academic prowess, the lecturers are better placed to enlighten the public on the economy, governance and the polity as part of conscious efforts to further enrich the nation’s democracy.
“I think the university lecturers, the professors are really keeping quiet. You have almost insulated yourselves from politics and governance. Today we hear a cacophony of voices about the economy, governance and the polity from people who don’t have the kind of depth and scholarship that are available in the university.
“I will like to watch a television programme and see a professor of law with speciality in corruption or terrorism. I would rather listen to him and I know that many of these professors have done seminal work on these. There must be this town and gown relationship,” he said.
The Minister commended the University of Lagos for its achievements, especially for being the first university to operate a campus radio and also for its advanced plans to establish the first campus television station, as disclosed by the Vice-Chancellor.
Earlier, while welcoming the Minister, the Vice-Chancellor said that as an alumnus of the institution, Alhaji Mohammed remained one of the main drivers of positive change in the country.
“With your pedigree, we are sure your performance in that position will be to the dignity of the University of Lagos,” he said.
Alhaji Mohammed read law, as a second degree, at the university between 1982 and 1985.
