The maiden edition of the international conference organized by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), through its School of Information and Communications Technology (SICT), stands as a testament to the university’s commitment to academic excellence and innovation. As the chairman of the International Organizing Committee, I was privileged to lead this groundbreaking initiative, which culminated in a highly successful conference from December 10–12, 2024.

The journey began in May 2024 when I was appointed as chairman of the committee, with the capable Dr. Stanley Adiele Okolie, the Associate Dean of SICT, serving as secretary. The committee comprised academics from Nigeria and across Europe, America, and Asia. Over the course of 11 meticulously planned meetings, we worked tirelessly to deliver a world-class event. Despite her demanding schedule, the Dean of SICT, Professor U.F. Eze, attended every meeting, exemplifying her dedication to the success of this initiative.

The conference theme, “The Fourth Industrial Technologies: Potentials and Challenges for Developing Countries,” addressed the opportunities and obstacles posed by Industry 4.0 technologies. The sub-themes, encapsulated in Tracks 01-10, explored cutting-edge topics including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, the Internet of Things, digital agriculture, nanotechnology, biotechnology, quantum and cloud computing, augmented reality, and virtual reality. These areas hold significant promise for shaping the future of developing nations.

The opening ceremony on December 10, 2024, was graced by high-profile attendees, including the Governor of Imo State, Senator Hope Uzodinma, and FUTO’s Vice Chancellor, Professor Nnenna Otti. Other distinguished guests included the Vice Chancellor of Hesnard University, Bayelsa State, Professor Dileep Kumar M., alongside FUTO’s three Deputy Vice Chancellors, the librarian, bursar, and former and current deans of SICT. Their presence added prestige and credibility to the event.

The conference recorded remarkable milestones, underscoring its success:

1. Global Academic Connections:
Relationships were forged with leading international scholars, including Professor Mike Hinchey. These connections bridged FUTO with the global academic community, fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange.

2. Academia-Government-Industry Synergy:
The conference strengthened the university’s ties with government institutions and industry players, aligning with the Triple Helix Model successfully implemented at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). This synergy is crucial for driving innovation and economic development.

3. Focus on Industry 4.0 for Developing Countries:
The event served as a platform for discussing the transformative potential and challenges of Industry 4.0 in Africa. It emphasized the urgent need for proactive measures to ensure the continent leverages this industrial revolution effectively.

4. Research Collaborations:
The conference enabled collaborative research opportunities, particularly for academics who face constraints in attending international conferences. This initiative provided a critical platform for intellectual engagement and exchange.

5. Social and Cultural Exchange:
Social events, including opening ceremonies, tours, receptions, and dinners, enriched the conference experience. These activities facilitated networking, fostered cultural appreciation, and highlighted the diversity of participants.

The conference was unanimously deemed a resounding success. It demonstrated that when academia, government, and industry collaborate, remarkable achievements are possible. We owe this accomplishment to the dedication of committee members, speakers, the university management, the Dean of SICT, and all attendees.

As we reflect on this milestone, we are reminded of the immense potential for institutions in developing countries to lead in advancing global conversations on technological innovation. FUTO’s 1st ICT International Conference has set a precedent that will undoubtedly inspire similar initiatives in the future.

Prof. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, CON, FCIIS, FBCS, FNCS, is a former Minister of Communication and Digital Economy and an advocate for technological innovation in Africa. He is a professor of Cybersecurity at FUTO

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TECHDIGEST – Elders of Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) Alumni have distanced themselves from the statement credited to the president of the association on the appointment of the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, as a Professor of Cyber Security in the University.

The Elders’ Council in a statement signed by the president, Dr Victor Ijeh, however described the statement as an attempt to misrepresent facts and discredit the Alumni Elders.

“The elders of FUTO ALUMNI Association have individually expressed their views to relevant stakeholders of FUTO. This matter is now in court, and it is wrong to decide for the court. We state therefore that the elders are monitoring the situation and dissociate herself from the publication by FUTO Alumni Association officials. We will remain as cautious and objective as possible, and will not be drawn into any form of mindless activism to satisfy anybody

“FUTO ALUMNI ELDERS is a group of pioneer graduates of FUTO who by their reckoning, experience, number of years of graduation, contributions to FUTO, society at large, and numerical age have attained the status of veterans and elders in our society. This group was formed to synergize and make more meaningful contributions for the sustainable development of our prestigious institution.

Members of FUTO Alumni Elders are also members of FUTO Alumni Association, and there is no ambiguity whatsoever,” the Elders’ statement read in part.

He explained that the re-union event in Lagos as conceived to give members the opportunity to interact and noted that some members of the National Executive Council were invited.

“The re-union dinner held in Lagos on February 18, 2022 was conceived ab initio by Alumni Elders, and solely sponsored by financially capable members of Alumni Elders. The dinner was an opportunity to create a convivial atmosphere for members to interact with one other. FUTO Alumni Association Lagos branch was invited, and Alumni Elders also reached out to some NEC members of FUTO Alumni Association, to which no prior contrary views were expressed. It is therefore, a blatant display of rascality and sheer abuse of office for a few misguided NEC members of FAA to issue such embarrassing and ill informed publication to cast aspersions on the good intentions of the Alumni Elders,” the statement also read.

The Elders’ Council warned stakeholders against going to the Press to embarrass the association over issues they lack the right and complete information to address.

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TECHDIGEST – A Professor of Industrial and Commercial Law and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) , Joe Abugu, has lashed out at the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), over its stance on the conferment of professorial status on the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Pantami, by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO)

The National Executive Committee of ASUU had set aside the findings by its FUTO chapter which had endorsed the procedure for the conferment of the professorial rank.

In a position paper titled: “Of University Autonomy, Meddlesomeness of ASUU and its War Against Prof. Ibrahim Isa Pantami,” Professor Abugu, a lecturer at the University of Lagos, argued that the local chapter of ASUU did an excellent job in reminding the public that FUTO duly advertised the vacant positions in credible national dailies, and when Pantami applied, the relevant bodies vetted his credentials and gave him the appointment on merit.

He argued further that all over the world and in Nigeria as well, there are no strict general rules guiding the procedure for a professorial appointment that all universities in a country must obey, adding that each institution of learning sets its own rules and that the Vice-Chancellor also has certain discretionary powers to use when necessary.

Quoting relevant laws guiding the operations of trade unions like ASUU and universities like FUTO, the Learned Silk said futher that there is even nowhere in the statute books where ASUU is mentioned as an important decision or opinion making body in the procedure of appointing university professors.

“By section 3 of the Federal Universities of Technology Act 1993, the University shall have power to inter alia institute professorships, readerships or associate professorships, lecture-ships, and other posts and offices and to make appointments thereto; and by section 6, the Council shall be the governing body of the University and shall be charged with the general control and superintendence of the policy, finances and property of the University. It is clear therefore, that ASUU has no power to institute or confer professorship. It is noteworthy that the University Council comprises two representatives of the congregation of teachers. Whilst the Congregation is the body of academics in the University, it is not synonymous with ASUU. It can be taken for granted though that through these representatives of Congregation, ASUU may have a voice in the conferment of Professorships but not ASUU as a Union.

“Can ASUU then have the power to declare a Professorship conferred by an institution illegal? The answer may probably be found in the Rule book or Constitution of ASUU. As a registered trade union under the Trade Union Act, its Rule book neither contains any clause conferring powers of certification of academic titles nor the power to declare one, illegal,” he said.

On the issue of whether Pantami was qualified for the appointment while serving as minister, Abugu noted that the argument is watery and based on ignorance.

According to the professor, while there is no precedent for ASUU or any trade union at all meddling in the internal affairs of universities, there are a lot of verifiable and reliable precedents in the country for ministers and other government officials who got professorial appointments while on study leave or leave of absence from the respective universities where they were teaching.

He, therefore, mentioned other prominent Nigerians including Late Dora Akunyili, Jerry Gana, Muhammad Ali Pate, etc as having benefited from the same privilege for which he claimed Pantami is now being slaughtered by ASUU.

Stating that Pantami’s professorship rank has been legally and legitimately earned, Abugu said ASUU’s take on the integrity of the procedure has no basis in law, precedent, morality and logic.

He advised ASUU to look for another agenda and stop chasing shadows, adding that there are more fundamental issues affecting education in the country that should bother the union.

By PRNigeria

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TECHDIGEST – The Vice Chancellor of the Federal University, Owerri (FUTO), Prof. Nnenna Oti, has said the management had gone to court over the rejection of Dr. Isah Ibrahim Pantami’s promotion to the rank as a professor of Cyber Security by the institution.

This followed the threat by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) to sanction FUTO management for approving Pantami as a professor while he is still in Federal Government’s active service as a minister.

Oti told The Nation yesterday that the management went to court on the matter, saying any comment or discussion on it is subjudice.

But a senior management worker, who spoke in confidence, claimed that ASUU has no right to dabble into a matter it has no jurisdiction over.

“Just like ASUU does not tell the university council and its Senate who to promote, it cannot tell them the criteria for promoting somebody to rank of professor. In law, you cannot withdraw what you don’t have. ASUU does not regulate appointments and promotions. Some of these things are derived from NUC guidelines, and every university sets up its standard,” the source said.

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TECHDIGEST – The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has confirmed that the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami went through rigorous processes before his appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity in the Federal University of Technology, Owerri(FUTO).

The FUTO chapter of ASUU said Pantami’s application scaled six hurdles before it was ratified by the Governing Council.

It clarified that external assessors were engaged to examine the Minister’s publications to earn the academic position.

The internal inquiry confirmed that due process was followed by both the Governing Council and the management of FUTO to appoint Pantami a Professor of Cybersecurity in the School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT).

The conclusions of the FUTO chapter of ASUU were contained in the report of a five-man probe panel, which was set up by the union.

The investigation was commissioned by the Congress of FUTO chapter of ASUU at its session on September 22nd, 2021.

Members of the committee were (i) Engr. Prof. M. S. Nwakaudu (Chairman); (ii) Prof. G.A. Anyanwu; (iii) Prof. C. E. Orji; (iv) Prof. Mrs. O.P. Onyewuchi; and (v) Prof.T. I. N. Ezejiofor (Member/Secretary).
According to a document, Pantami’s appointment was not a shelf job.

The panel listed the procedures adopted to make Pantami a professor as follows:
* Copies of advertisement for Academic and Academic Support Staff Vacancies in FUTO for the positions of Professor, Reader, Senior Lecturer, etc., which appeared in the DAILY SUN and THE GUARDIAN of Monday, September 21, 2020 and Tuesday, September 22, 2020 respectively.
*Federal Universities of Technology Act, CAP F23 (Section 11, 1-6, and Section 18, 1-2).
* Students’ Handbook of the Cyber security Department.
*Guidelines for the appointment and Promotion of Academic Staff for 2020/2021 Appraisal Year.
*Submission of publications and productive works for both internal and external assessments.
*Consideration by Academic Staff Appraisal and Promotion Committee- Professorial (ASAPC-Professorial) meeting held on 17th March, 2021.
*Confirmation of Pantami as a Professor by FUTO Governing Council
The report said the panel interacted with some vital stakeholders including the University Registrar; the immediate Past Chairman, Committee of Deans; the Dean, School of Information and Communication Technology (SICT); some Deans of Schools who were members of ASAPC-Professional during the 2020/2021 Appraisal Year; some Internal Members of the last FUTO Governing Council and the Acting Head, Cybersecurity Department.

The report gave insights into how Pantami was appointed by the university.
The report added: “FUTO in her quest to be counted in the modem trends in the fields of science, engineering, technology, etc, decided to establish new programmes such as Forensic Science, Software Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering, Cybersecurity, Radiography and Radiation Science, etc.

” FUTO advertised for vacancies in Academic and Academic Support Staff in six Schools (namely SICT, SESET, SOES, SOHT, SBMS and SOBS) and 23 Departments including Cybersecurity

” Vacancies advertised in the Academic Departments (including Cyber Security Department) are for Professor, Reader, Senior Lecturer, etc

” The advertisement appeared in the two National Newspapers (THE SUN and THE GUARDIAN) and interested candidates were invited to apply for the position to which they are qualified.

“Dr.Isa Ibrahim responded and applied for the post of Professor of Cybersecurity. He was given a Temporary Appointment as Professor of Cybersecurity in the Cybersecurity Department, for which he accepted in writing.

” Dr. Isa Ibrahim’s qualifications include BSc, MSc in Computer Science and MBA all from ATBU, PhD in Computer Information System from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, UK. He is a Fellow and member of some foreign Computer Science professional societies.

“Dr. Isa Ibrahim was requested to submit details of his publications and productive works for both internal and external assessments. He complied with the request.

” Dr. Isa Ibrahim’s publications and productive works were sent to the Dean of SICT for internal assessment for the purpose of establishment of Prima facie case for the Professorial Appointment.

” The Dean of SICT assessed the publications and productive works using the FUTO Guidelines for Appointment and Promotion and established a prima facie case for Dr. Isa Ibrahim for him to be appointed a Professor of Cybersecurity.

” The prima facie case for Dr. Isa Ibrahim was presented to the Academic Staff Appraisal and Promotion Committee- Professorial (ASAPC-Professorial) meeting held on 17th March, 2021. The Committee discussed the issue and recommended same for approval by the FUTO Council.

“The Council at its meeting held on the 18th of March, 2021 approved the prima facie case for Dr. Isa Ibrahim to be appointed a Professor of Cybersecurity.

” Following the approval of the prima facie case, Dr. Isa Ibrahim’s publications and productive works were sent for external assessment.

” The external assessment returned positive and the Council at its meeting of 20th August, 2021 approved his appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity.

” Dr. Isa Ibrahim was given a tenure appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity following his appointment by the FUTO Governing Council.

“Dr. Isa Ibrahim has assumed duties and is currently involved in the teaching of CYB 201 (Fundamentals of Cyber Security), via online and a lead Supervisor of one PhD Student/Staff of Cybersecurity Department.”

Apart from confirming that Pantami’s appointment followed due process, the panel insisted
recommended legal action against those who had allegedly tried to tarnish the image of FUTO.
The report said:” From our findings and evidence before the panel, members are of the opinion that the appointment of Dr. Isa Ibrahim as a Professor of Cybersecurity by the FUTO Governing Council followed due process.

” The panel strongly recommends that the university management should as a matter of urgency take appropriate actions, including legal action, against those who deliberately try to drag the image and reputation of FUTO to the mud.”

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TECHDIGEST – Professor Farooq Kperogi has once again come to attempt to hoodwink us with his very well written grammars which does sway certain people into believing a lot of the things he reels out including me at some times back but I have lately chosen to attempt to engage some of his opinions especially when they touch on some very important fabrics. In this latest one, he attempted to insinuate that Pantami’s award of professorship by the prestigious Federal university Of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) was unmerited and I beg to disagree with such conclusions.

He felt that Pantami had not written enough publications to merit being a professor and I wondered if truly just write ups should be the reason for awarding professorship even when they don’t impact anything to the society nor the academic environment. Let me give an example of some of us who were not the ones carrying first in class owing to the fact that we don’t cram to write exams and that forms what most teachers and lectures prefer around here. Fast forward to today, majority of those crammers are today finding it hard to understand the workings of the street nor integrate properly into a progressive venture. All of their humongous write up are gathering dusts wherever they are and have not made any impact to the individuals nor the society. Why should professor Farooq not think towards contributing to the advancement of the criteria for award of professorship as against sticking to an old method that has in many cases not turned out progressive.

Let me also give an example with an argument I’ve been trying to push out in the Nigeria’s civil service sector where there’s an alleged law that stops civil servants who are professionals from practicing their professions. Perhaps, this law was made back in the days with the aim of mitigating conflict of interests but trust me along the line it has deprived that civil service of practical professionals who are solution providers. I believe this law is archaic and must be revisited as soon as possible in order to allow civil servants who have instruments of practice to do so while ensuring that personal interests are not in conflict with such practice.

In view of the foregoing, let me attempt to evaluate why I feel Prof. Isa Ali Pantami merits more being a professor if there is anything as such. Firstly, he did obtain his PhD through proper academic participation at the Robert Gordon University and he had been lecturing at the ATBU, Bauchi before proceeding to the UK. He also left UK to the University in Medina, Saudi Arabia to lecture and while doing such Prof Kperogi stated in one of his write ups how they had been exchanging notes with Prof. Pantami. The man did not leave lecturing because he didn’t like it or was tired of it, he left because his credentials had been admired by a government who thought they could utilize it for the good of a nation.

If Prof. Kperogi could merit an award, why not Prof. Pantami.

Ever since such appointment was made, a sector which Nigeria and her government never exploited or knew existed in terms of harnessing it has been brought forward by this man to the extent that it has become the most functional and promising sector in the country’s economy. It is somewhat miraculous that any one man can formulate all the strategies and policies in a sector he’s given to manage within 2 years and equally make them manifest within same period. If this is not genius, then what could ever be. I thought the idea behind professorship was to portray genius out of a person in a particular sector. Just recently, Inyene Ibanga had to publish a compendium of Prof. Pantami’s speeches and submissions in the Digital Economy drive, a voluminous book that I’ve not been done reading but so far rich in digital contents enough to serve as a tutorial material in an academic environment or for research and development purposes for any individual.

One of the cardinal pillars of Prof Pantami’s policies is the Digital Literacy which birthed things like the NITDA Academy which is an online school that certifies people in ICT and has affiliations to Microsoft and other major ICT players. Majority of interventions that his sector has made was to tertiary institutions in order that the aim of ensuring improved digital literacy in the society is achieved. The professor did not just formulate these policies, he equally lives it which has eventually culminated into mentorship for the sector.

Consequently, I’ll exit this session by concluding that Prof Pantami’s intellectual contribution to the society more than merits a Professorship award just as Prof Kperogi has equally made enough contributions regardless of how controversial to merit his professorship award.

Hashim Suleiman
oneheartnaija@yahoo.com

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TECHDIGEST – In his typical fashion, our Nigerian-American plump dude and self-acclaimed intellectual Farook  Kperogi is at it again, lacing important arguments with his inflated sense of self-importance and exposing himself to unwarranted ridicule as for obvious reasons, he has been trending on social media, particularly Facebook since yesterday as “Shugaban yan hasada, (king of envy),” due to his crude take on the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Ali Isa Pantami’s ascension to the rank of a Professor by the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO).

A “compulsively inveterate contrarian,” as he once described himself in an interview with Daily Trust Editor, Abdulazeez Bello, Kperogi’s obsession with attacking powers that be has constantly peached him against the ethics of truth and fairness which has in turn exposed him as a serial liar that had to put down several of his libelous claims when confronted with overwhelming facts.

Even the Saturday Tribune where Kperogi is a columnist has confirmed from authority of the Federal University of Technology, (FUTO) that Pantami applied for the post and passed assessments for his appointment as a professor.

The university also also insisted that the appointment of the minister to the position of professor “followed required due process.”

The Registrar of FUTO, Mr John Nnabuihe, said: Pantami was assessed alongside other internal members who were also appointed as professors.
Nnabuihe defended the promotion as deserving, saying it was “based on his qualification which he merited through long years of research works.”

Nnabuihe said that after Dr Ibrahim graduated in Computer Science, he started as a lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University and later went to another university in Saudi Arabia and was thereafter appointed as an “Associate Professor,” which was where he stayed for some time until he was appointed as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which he said was “like a research institute.”

According to him, in such a research institute, somebody could be there and at the same time would be publishing papers that could make him qualify. He said based on that, a particular university “could decide to appoint someone as a professor.”

It happened when Kperogi paddled the fake news that former National Security Adviser, Sambo Dasuki had died in custody and when he was accused of sharing fake news he mentioned a Whatsapp audio as his source, it happened when he paraded an old video clips from a shared a Kannywood movie scene where one actor, wearing Nigeria’s Army camouflage uniform, were shown crying over the death of his colleague, as Nigeria’s Army fighting Boko Haram in the Northeast., it happened , it happened at it happened.

Infact, Kperogi’s tendency for consistent, recurring and habitual attitude of peddling fake news and share concocted stories and lies have led to several scathing articles denting his ‘media scholarship,’ and placing questions of the integrity of his so called “sources.”

It was the same Kperogi that in September 2016, “heard it from an impeccable source” that the Aso Villa Clinic’s 2017 budget was more than the combined budget of all the 16 Teaching Hospitals in Nigeria.

It was the same Kperogi who concocted a well-spiced lie that President Buhari spent 6million pounds to treat ear infection in London.

It was the same Kperogi who heard it from “authoritative source” that the botched Nigeria Air Logo was designed at the cost of 183 million Naira.

It was the same Kperogi fabricated a WhatsApp message claiming that a “friend in the security sector expressed concern over your safety as a result of possibility of a plot by the Buhari regime/cabal to assassinate you in the state,” which he curiously has not uptill date reported to the US authorities.

In its investigative report, fact-checking social media influencers who shared fake news during Nigerian general elections, International Centre For Investigative Reporting, Dr. Kperogi’s name appeared twice, sharing unverified, fake videos as an authoritative evidence of rigging by INEC during the 2019 elections.

Kperogi will claim anything he hears from any source as long as it portrays him as a “brilliant” and “well connected” personality who though resides in the US, knows it all in Nigeria. Rather than advance his public image which he so maniacally seeks, he has succeeded in leaving in the trail of his wakes a person who can best be described as a scholar of bitter and abusive language who has no problem flouting ethical standards to his own end even when he knows his assertions are libelous.

You will never see Kperogi appreciating anybody, his standards are always supreme, and he writes in a manner that treats his subject condescendingly out of certain grudge or malice he mus have held against them. That is why I am particularly glad that Kperogi did not attend a Harvard or an Oxford, but state Universities in the US, otherwise, for a man who disrespects even his former lecturers, his boastfulness would have been beyond containment.

No wonder those who knew this side of his personality disorder like Daily Trust, have withdrawn him from their beat.

Based on his antecedents, a Kperogi has no moral standing whatsoever to question Pantami’s ascendancy to the professorship and I am glad that the argument is not centered on the fact that he, Pantami, lacks the knowledge and capacity which is something even his most vicious haters cannot take away from him.

It is even more sickening how Kperogi could heartlessly condescend to calling out the deceased Professor Dora Akunyili, of blessed memory, just to make a point.

Domiciling in a foreign land and attacking Nigeria’s institutions with an obviously ridiculous intent says a lot about Kperogi’s grudge, part of which I suspect that it was because Pantami never gave his relative that appointment he had lobbied for on his behalf, which Kperogi himself had admitted in a previous article.

It is not an offense for someone of Pantami’s standing to not only have goals and aspirations, but is working towards and achieving them, Kperogi of all people should know that. Having made my point, the man is welcome to come after me with his “jabbajastic” English weapon, who cares!

Wakawa writes from Kano.

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TECHDIGEST – Isa Ali Pantami is in the eyes of envious minds, he is being dragged for being different. His offence is learning to speak the queen’s English so impeccably. He romances the English words so erotically that even the owners of the language fantasize in flirtatious admiration. Pantami is intelligent, he is cerebral and infectiously charismatic. The Americans will describe him as a filbustrous speaker, he sure commands the fluidity that comes with spoken words. His greatest offence against his traducer is his audacity to be overtly rather than conservative – a real reserved for northerners. Of all the northern intellectuals ever, only a few stand in expressive splendour. The rest were and are buried in the toga of conservativism. Only late Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, Maitama Sule, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and Isah Pantami refused to be suppressed under the conservatism of the north.

Isah Pantami combined sheer doggedness to be outstanding in his aspirations; as an Islamic scholar or preacher, he dwarfs his contemporaries. When he preaches, you don’t want him to stop- his name travels round in the minds of Nigerian Muslims. As an academic reference, he dominated his chosen field of interest so much that he is an enigmatic reference. Rising to become an intellectual figure in two universities of the world is no mean feat, it takes cultivated resilience and hard work to be appointed a lecturer in Nigeria and Saudi Arabian’ universities. An accidental intellectual can’t be this lucky to wear this gown of academic regards.

And to have a preacher and university lecturer bulldozed his way into political fiefdom to the extent of sustaining an everyday news mention and prestige should be a task that requires critical study. What does this man possess that he is undoubtedly unstoppable in his aspirations? For everywhere he navigates, he enjoys the wave of influence. When news mentions of present day political figures in this dispensation are collated and tabulated, Pantami will have his bar chat standing vertically in towering height. He has been consistent and stands again as one of the most popular ministers in President Muhammadu Buhari’s cabinet.

The above anecdote points to one thing, Isah Pantami has an unquenchable trajectory, and therefore, requires no title to excel in his destined voyage. The hullabaloo about the professorial cap to the Gombe born preacher, teacher and politician is needless and an overstretched ploy to impede the ride of a man who refused to be silenced by the age-long narrative that a northerner no matter his intellect and education is naturally a conservative gamut whose voice must not be heard. This man has shattered that forced stereotype and those who are supposed to give him the stoic nods are busy writing essays on why the professorial conferment on Isah Pantami by the Federal University of Technology, Owerri should not be. I dare to ask, would this feat reduce your own aspiration to greatness? Why the sustained and unmitigated onslaught on this man who is breaking the shell of prejudice? You guys must allow Pantami to breathe, please.

Frankly musing

Haruna Abdullahi Haruspice writes from Abuja

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TECHDIGEST – Authorities of the Federal University of Technology, (FUTO), Owerri, have explained why the university made the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr Isa Ali Pantami, a professor, saying the name he gave to the university was Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim before his appointment.

FUTO also insisted that the appointment of the minister to the position of professor “followed required due process.”

Pantami was recently elevated to the academic rank of a professor by FUTO along with some other lecturers of the university.

The minister’s elevation has generated controversy, with many faulting FUTO on the promotion of the minister, who has never been on the teaching roll of the university and whose highest academic attainment was just a lecturer before he ventured into politics.

Speaking with Saturday Tribune on the issue, the Registrar of FUTO, Mr John Nnabuihe, said: “The university knows him as Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim based on the documents in his file submitted,” adding that he was assessed alongside other internal members who were also appointed as professors. Nnabuihe defended the promotion as deserving, saying it was “based on his qualification which he merited through long years of research works.”

Nnabuihe said Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim was not “promoted” as reported in some quarters but was “appointed” because he was a Reader.

The FUTO Registrar said “the only reason why it looks like it is a promotion is because he was a Reader and has not attained such position before. So, he is appointed into a higher position than where he was before.”

He said: “Somebody who is not your staff, you cannot promote him.” Nnabuihe said that after Dr Ibrahim graduated in Computer Science, he started as a lecturer at the Abubakar Tafawa Belewa University. Professor Ibrahim, according to him, later went to another university in Saudi Arabia and was thereafter appointed as an “Associate Professor,” which was where he stayed for some time until he was appointed as the Director General of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) which he said was “like a research institute.”

According to him, in such a research institute, somebody could be there and at the same time would be publishing papers that could make him qualify. He said based on that, a particular university “could decide to appoint someone as a professor.”

The FUTO Registrar told Saturday Tribune that in September 2020, FUTO advertised for the position of professor and lecturers in different disciplines in the institution and Professor Ibrahim applied.

He said: “If an associate professor is in a particular university and another university wants him and after assessing him he is qualified based on his research works and credentials, such a person could be appointed as professor by that university.”

On when Professor Ibrahim would be available to take up his new job in the university, the Registrar said that “is his business,” saying “he applied and FUTO has assessed and appointed him, it’s not my business” (when he would take up the position). On whether FUTO has cyber security as a course, the Registrar said the institution has a Department of Cybersecurity under its School of Information and Communications Technology.

ASUU orders probe

Meanwhile, the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) has launched an investigation into the appointment and has directed its FUTO chapter to look into the circumstances under which Pantami was promoted to the highest academic rank in the institution.

Reacting to the development, the chairman of ASUU, FUTO branch, Mr Christopher Echereobia, told Saturday Tribune that the union was aware of the development, adding that the union was already investigating the issue.

Echereobia said the national secretariat of ASUU had directed that “the issue should be investigated to ascertain the true position of the matter.”

He explained that the union held its zonal meeting on Wednesday and the issue was discussed.

The FUTO ASUU chairman said investigation was ongoing and as soon as the inquiry was concluded, the union would come out with its position. He said ASUU members in the institution had been given two weeks to investigate the matter and come up with their findings.

Echereobia said: “I just came back from Awka. We have been meeting and we want to get to the root of the matter.”

The ASUU chief said already, the union had contacted ASUU at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Univeristy (ATBU) because they learnt that Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim was a one-time staff member there before he went for a PhD and later went to Medina.

He added that the union was also trying to reach the Saudi institution to ascertain the true position, whether he was “associate professor” there or not.

The post Why We Made Pantami Professor – FUTO Reveals appeared first on Tech Digest News.

TECHDIGEST – Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami has been promoted to the rank of Professor of Cybersecurity.

Pantami is among seven Readers (Associate Professors) promoted to Professor by the Governing Council of Federal Univerity of Technology Owerri (FUTO) at its 186th meeting held on Friday, August 20, 2021.

Other promoted from Readers to Professor are Engr. Dr Okechukwu Onyelucheya of Chemical Engineering, Dr. Alex I. Opara (Geology), Dr. Conrad Enenebeaku (Chemistry), Dr. Chikwendu Okereke (Geology), Engr. Dr. Lawence Ettu (Civil Engineering) and Dr. Godfrey Emeghara (Maritime Management Technology).

The Council also approved the recommendation of the Academic Staff Appointment and Promotions Committee (Professorial) for the promotion of nine Senior Lecturers to Readers and two Senior University Librarians to Deputy University Librarians.

An erudite scholar of information technology, Pantami who recently bagged the Security and Emergency Management Award (SAEMA) on Cybersecurity had lectured at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, on ICT, before joining the Islamic University of Madinah as Head of Technical Writing in 2014.

He was appointed the Director-General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) in 2016, before he was appointed the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy on 21 August 2019.

A senior lecturer at the FUTO told PRNigeria that the university committee is excited to have Pantami as one of its new seven Professors, even though the Minister as indicated that he would not receive remuneration because of his current position.

“We gladly welcome this new set of Professors, in our reputable institution. It is even more heartwarming to note that Prof. Pantami has already communicated to the University that he won’t collect salary for now because of his national assignment.

“As you are aware Professorial title on an individual connotes leadership and exceptional contribution at national and international levels in research, scholarship, teaching/mentorship and learning.

“In Nigerian Universities, a professorial appointment has been a prerogative of the Senate of the Universities. Because of autonomy, the criteria for the appointment of a professor varies from one university to another.

“A criteria for appointment of a professor is usually a process unless strong evidence indicates some waiver. The professorship is not a theory, but a practical aspect; an expert with the ability to profess his expertise in his field/profession.

“The procedure for appointment and conferment of a professor is annual and include an application by suitably qualified individuals through recruitment or promotion.

“The application is internally assessed by a panel of assessors (mostly professors) usually by the relevant members of a Senate standing committee of Appointment and Promotion (A&PC) of the University.

“Upon the committee’s positive assessment, the University may communicate to the applicant his appointment to the professorial position subject to a positive assessment of External Academic Assessors (usually three, one of which may be a reputable professor in Europe or North America).

“These External Assessors are independent of the applicant and are of professorial standing in a discipline related to the applicant’s core research and academic interest.

“The referees must not have supervised or collaborated with the applicant on any research/scholarly projects as well as must not be related whatsoever to the applicant.

“Therefore, in summary, appointment and promotion to a professorial position is a process and varies from university to university. University Senate is the final approving body for the conferment of professorial title on applicant and has also the power to waive certain criteria to confer the title when they are convinced that the applicant is qualified to have the title,” he said.

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