Why we’re launching ‘Change’ campaign – FG

Lai Mohammed

The Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed, said yesterday that the federal government was set to launch the “Change Begins With Me” campaign to entrench the values of accountability, integrity and positive attitudinal change in Nigerians.


The Minister, who disclosed this at a briefing in Abuja, said the campaign, which is billed for launch tomorrow, was aimed at educating and enlightening Nigerians on the need to appreciate the key values needed for national development.

He said: “About three to five years back now, the role models in the society were people of doubtful character. Money was worshipped; nobody cared where and how one got the money; these are the misplaced values that we are tackling now.”

He said the campaign would involve every Nigerian and address the shortcomings of every profession and jobs, and was expected to feature slogans that could be easily assimilated by the people. “We believe that what is wrong with Nigeria is not limited to the elite, the political class and the civil service; if we want that change, therefore, it must address all the issues and target every strata of the society.

“The campaign was not a replication of the “War Against Indiscipline” which the Buhari-led military administration initiated in 1983, but said it would achieve the same goal using a different means.

“In 1983, they used what they had to achieve what they wanted, which was to correct the decadence in society, tackle corruption and impunity. In the area of enforcement, people alleged infractions and intimidation. But here, we are going to use the media to appeal to people.

We are going to use persuasion, instead of coercion and intimidation. “Our various platforms will be radio, television, print media, bill boards, social media and the like.

Part of our campaign will also be concerts which will be sponsored by people in the private sector,’’ he said. The minister appealed for the support of the private sector towards the success of the campaign, adding that the National Orientation Agency, NOA, would be the flagship body driving the campaign.