I’m not in office just to partake in administrative works, I still teach, supervise PhD candidates – Pantami speaks at MAAUN
AREWA AGENDA – The Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Professor Isa Ali Pantami has officially commissioned the School of Computing named after his personality at Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) today at Kano State.
Pantami who disclosed his commitment to academia line in Nigeria, he confirmed that he still teaches and supervised various postgraduate works despite being a serving Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Professor Pantami said this while expressing an appreciation message to the Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria, (MAAUN) Kano State for honouring his name to replicate the School of Computing of the University.
He said “I am only here to appreciate the University for naming a faculty after my humble self, i.e. the School of Computing. I considered this as a recognition”
He further stated his educational background and personal history in the field of computing and contribution to knowledge from the beginning of his career as a Programmer at Computer Center in Abubskar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi.
“That my background is in computing, my first degree was Computer Science, MSc. Computer Science, MBA Technology Management, still related to Computer Science, my PhD. is Computer Information System and I thought Courses at Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University for over a decade, I was a programmer in Computer Centre, later I was transferred to academic line, I was graduate assistant, I was an assistant lecturer there, I was Lecturer I before I was given a higher position at the Islamic University of Medina when I left Nigeria for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and even there I was in Faculty of Computing and Information System.” Pantami said
He further reiterated his commitment in serving Nigeria as Director General of NITDA, a position he held before upgraded to serve as Minister of Communication and Digital Economy where he confirmed his unabated engagement in Academia.
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“When I was brought back to Nigeria to serve as a DG of the National Information Technology Development Agency, is another institute of computing and it is another center for computing and even during that period I have been engaged with Academia like the Massachusetts Institute Of Technology (MIT), I served as Champion of Massachusetts, the best university in the world. In addition to few other institutions that I engaged with while at NITDA including Open University, I led a team that developed their curriculum syllabus and many more for all the computing courses including postgraduate courses. So because of that throughout my life in academic circle, you’ll discover in one way or the other is computing.” Pantami said
He equally said “And the same as a Minister of Communication and Digital Economy is still part of Computing and I still teach. Last year I thought a course in computing fundamentals of cybersecurity, this year I am still teaching and still supervising postgraduate students, and I am supervising PhD. Candidates in the area of computing and cybersecurity. So we are not in office just to partake in administrative work only but we are still engaged with academia and still teach and supervise projects for PhDs among many other activities, I still write, I published papers, I write books! I feel very honoured that this Faculty of Computing is named after my humble self ISA ALI PANTAMI. he appreciated
On his part, the founder of Maryam Abacha American University of Nigeria (MAAUN) Professor Adamu Abubakar Gwarzo revealed why the School of Computing is named after the Minister.
Gwarzo revealed that due to Pantami’s commitment and selfless services in shifting the country’s paradigm into the digital age when he served as NITDA Director General as well as his current position of Minister of Communication and Digital Economy.
“I came to know much about NITDA and its activities when Pantami was the head there, he achieved a lot in developing Nigeria’s Digital Economy and promoting technological aspects for the country to dive into the development that can yield a positive result in respect for Nigeria to compete with the global economy. His activities are bringing more image to Nigeria not only within the country but also in the diaspora.” Pro Gwarzo lamented
While signing the condolence book of Late Rakietou Hassane Mossi, a university staff of MAAUN Professor Pantami described the Rakietou’s dead as a sad lost of a sister at a moment where the University is in need of her services. He later pray for her Allah SWT to forgive her shortcomings and grant her Jannat Fidaus
