FG To Partner With NANS On ‘Change Begins With Me’

The Federal Government will partner with the National Association of
Nigerian Students (NANS) to take the “Change Begins With Me” Campaign
to universities across the country, the Minister of Information and
Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said.

Speaking during a courtesy visit to his office in Abuja on Tuesday by
the leadership of NANS, the Minister said Nigerian students remain the
critical mass of the public who can drive the national re-orientation
campaign to success.

“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,” he said.

Alhaji Mohammed said “Change Begins With Me” is about attitudinal
change, adding: ”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.”

While acknowledging NANS’ commendation of the Federal Government for
the rescue of 82 Chibok school girls, he said even though there are
ongoing efforts to secure the release of the remaining girls, the
government is now working for the total restoration of peace and
security to the North East and other parts of the country.

“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,” the Minister said.

The Minister said in the area of economy, which was crippled by the
crash in crude oil prices and unbridled corruption, the Federal
Government has remained focused in fighting corruption and
diversifying the economy away from oil in order to insulate the
country from the volatility of crude oil prices.

He gave the assurance that because of the creative approach adopted by
the Buhari Administration to restore the economy, Nigeria will soon
march out of recession.

Earlier, the National President of NANS, Comrade Aruna Kadiri, hailed
the government for the rescue of the 82 Chibok girls.

“Let me appreciate this government for the victory recently achieved
talking about the 82 Chibok girls, it’s a laudable achievement. We
want to use this opportunity to congratulate the Federal Government
and the Nigerian Military, the DSS, the Police, everybody that has put
in effort to make sure that we bring back our girls. We are saying
this because Chibok girls are students and they are under our
offices,” he said.

Comrade Kadiri said NANS has resolved to partner with the Federal
Government in the national re-orientation campaign, tagged “Change
Begins With Me”, noting that students and ordinary Nigerians should be
the ones driving the campaign.

He also commended the Minister for working hard to bridge the
communication gap between the government and the people.