At Pantami’s Book Presentation, Fani-Kayode defends ex-minister’s recent interventions

A book titled "A Scholar's Journey: Navigating the Academia,” authored by immediate past Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has been presented to the public in Abuja.

The book presentation, which took place in Abuja on Wednesday, was chaired by Prof. Babagana Umara Zulum, the Governor of Borno State. A former Executive Secretary of the National Universities Commission, NUC, Prof. Abubakar Rasheed, reviewed the book.

Governors Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya of Gombe State and Abdullahi Sule of Nasarawa State, together with former Governors of Lagos, Gombe and Ekiti States: Babatunde Raji Fashola, Senator Danjuma Goje and Dr. Kayode Fayemi; and several Ministers (both serving and former) were part of the eminent dignitaries who attended the event.

The 341-page book chronicles the two decades Prof. Ali Pantami spent in academia, both full-time and part-time. The book covers the former Minister's academic life across four continents - Africa, Europe, Asia and North America - from January 2003 to January 2023.

In his welcome remarks, former Minister of Aviation Chief Femi Fani-Kayode described Pantami Former Ministers of Aviation and a chieftain of All Progressive Party (APC), Chief Femi Fani-Kayode defended the intervention of Prof Isa Pantami regarding the abduction of Malam Monsoor Al-Kadriyar and his five daughters at Bwari area of the Federal Capital Territory.

He insisted that Pantami's modest and humane intervention served as catalyst for the eventual freedom of the kidnapped sisters from the dens of the abductors.

He described the former minister of communication as a public figure of 'indomitable courage' who has a true passion for national service.

He said: “Prof. Pantami is courageous about his faith. He is courageous about his academic achievements. He has been courageous in his political career. He has been courageous when it comes to his friendships and his loyalty to so many people.

“He has been courageous in his support and standing by President Muhammadu Buhari through thick and thin, which is something that is a great honor because most people when somebody is out of power, they no longer stand with that person. He has been consistent and clear and that speaks for him.

“But most important of all, and I have to say this, is his religious fervency, his commitment to Islam. Because he is first and foremost, in my view, and this is probably why I admire him so much, a cleric, a sheikh, and a man that will stand for, and by his faith any day and any time. And that is something that ought to be admired.

“...Look at the issue of kidnappers. The other day, a family was kidnapped. And one of them, the oldest daughter, was killed. Had it not been for Prof. Pantami's intervention, speaking to a number of people, and his reaching out to that family personally, which nobody else had done, the other five daughters would not be free today”.

Zulum, in his speech, said Prof. Pantami's multi-faceted expertise has greatly impacted the trajectory of Nigeria's technological landscape. He maintained that the ex-Minister is a leader who has demonstrated exceptional capabilities in the fields of administration and leadership, together with the academic world.

"This book is a chronicle of a remarkable life, one that has left an indelible impact in the realms of computing, cyber security, oil and gas, and technological innovation. Prof. Pantami's tenure as Minister of Communications and Digital Economy was marked by transformative policies that have catapulted our nation into the digital era," he said.

Reviewing the book, Prof. Rasheed noted that anyone who knows Prof. Pantami will not find it difficult to label him a scholar.

“Nobody will doubt his credentials as an influential Islamic scholar. Nobody in governance or in the academia will doubt the scholarly credentials of Professor Pantami in the broad discipline of computing, especially the area of cyber security.

“In his exemplary life in public service, first as the DG of NITDA, and later as Nigeria's first Minister of Digital Economy, you will find an adequate basis for defining the basic constituents of the ideal academic in government or a multi-faceted scholar in national political space," said the immediate-past NUC boss.

According to him, Pantami's book comprises 17 chapters, organically arranged in a linear chronological order, regarding its structural and thematic concerns.

Rasheed said: "Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim's academic autobiography is a remarkable book, crafted by a highly intelligent, resourceful, dynamic, charismatic, and culturally educated public servant and academician.

“The book itself is fairly well written, edited, and structured. It is reader-friendly and has a delightful technical finish. The language is simple but dignified, logical, coherent, authoritative, and thoroughly persuasive.”

Responding, Pantami explained that his newly unveiled book will serve as a mentorship guide for the younger Nigerians. “The book was authored to also share the experience I got while serving the general public and Nigeria as a nation.

“The current public officers will learn greatly from my successes and challenges while holding a public office for them to succeed. Aside from this book, I will sooner or later be unveiling five other ones I am currently working on, at the moment". (By PRNigeria)

•Femi Fani-Kayode, Prof Umara Zulum, Prof Ali Isa Pantami at the presentation of the book, “A Scholar’s Journey”

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