The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed has handed over to the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Information, Deaconess Grace Isu Gekpe.
The Minister handed over on Monday in a valedictory occasion held at the Press Center of the Radio House.
The Minister highlighted his journey as a Minister in the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In his address, Mohammed thanked the management and staff of the Ministry and expressed optimism that the second term of President Buhari will be better for Nigerians.
“I want to start by thanking the management and staff of the Ministry of Information and Culture for organizing this valedictory session for me.
“I also want to commend the staffers for their candid and kind words towards me. As a matter of facts, I’m not surprised they said so many kind words because before we started, I told them I was still a minister for one more day,” the Minister began.
“Five years ago, I met [many people]. Some have left today, while some have just joined, but until this sentforth upon my assumption of office to solicit for your support for me in particular,and for the government in general.
“I’m happy to say that at large, they have enjoyed the support of the management and staff of this ministry. I have also enjoyed indusrial harmony, thanks to the warm relations with the unions.
“Although relations were testing at times, reason and patriotism prevailed most of the times. Needless to say that without this industrial harmony, whatever we have achieved inthis past three and half years, would not have been possible.
“Please permit me to specially thank the permanent secretary for her support and cooperation without which we could not have done all those things that we now count as our achievments and they are indeed numerous.
“I also thank the directors and indeed all the staff for their support.
“I will not bore you with a list of our achievement in this past 3 and half years.
“We have chronicled our achievements and challenges in the hand-over notes.
“In this book entitled the …… of Alhaji Lia Mohammed, Minister of Information and culture.2015/2019, copies of which I’m sure will be distributed by the office of the permanent secretary.
“Finally, I leave you with my best wishes and sincere hope that you will extend to successor the same support and cooperation you have extended to me.
“I enjoin you to continue to do your best, revamp our economy, fight corruption to a stand still, and tackle insecurity. In the end, it is the little contributions of all of us that will make all the diference.
“I won’t end this speech without a small anecdote.”
