The Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the umbrella for lecturers in Nigerian universities, has rejected the report submitted by a committee in its Owerri, Imo State zone, on the appointment of Nigeria’s minister of communications and digital economy, Isa Ibrahim, popularly known as Pantami, as a professor of cybersecurity by the management of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO).

The union’s president, Emmanuel Osodeke, a professor, while addressing journalists in Abuja on Monday at the end of its two-day meeting of the National Executive Council, said ”there are many unanswered questions on Mr Ibrahim’s professorship’.

He also said the public should await its verdict at the end of the probe by another panel it had already set up.

He said; “ASUU NEC members, like many other concerned Nigerians, did not accept the report of the ASUU FUTO congress. There are serious doubts and unanswered questions bordering on the qualification of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) for the position. The FUTO Branch Committee’s report failed to justify Dr. Isah Ali Ibrahim’s (Pantami’s) appointment to professor on the bases of requisite experience, professional suitability and antecedents at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa (ATBU).”

ASUU called on the management of Nigerian universities and other academic institutions to join in its efforts to safeguard what it called the waning image of Nigeria’s university system, saying the vice-chancellors “have no business trading honorary degrees and academic positions for personal and immediate gains.”

ASUU said doing so will continue to smear “the collective integrity of committed scholars and other patriots who are working day and night to uplift the system that produced them.”

The union said even when the congress of its FUTO branch had endorsed the appointment of Mr Ibrahim as a professor, the secretary of the committee it set up had made a u-turn to reject the verdict, giving a dissenting report.

The union said it would probe the activities of its members in the award of the professorship, saying the report raised more questions than answers.

Mr Osodeke said: “Some critical questions begging for answers include the following: Has Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) met the 12-year post-qualification requirement as contained in the advertisement? Does he possess the required relevant academic publications and 70 per cent being in web presence? Can a serving minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria take a tenured appointment in the university? Is he capable of carrying out his official duties as required of a professor at the same time as a serving minister? Has Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) met the conditions of teaching, supervision, mentorship of younger academics and academic leadership required of a professor?

“What did the external assessors’ reports on the documents submitted by Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) say about his publications? As it has always been the culture of academics, what did the referee reports from his places of previous employment say about him? What is the general assessment of the students previously taught by him? Did the Governing Council meet to approve the appointment?

“In view of the foregoing and having rejected the ASUU-FUTO Committee’s report, NEC set up an independent committee to investigate all issues surrounding the controversial appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) as a Professor of Cyber Security in the University. Thereafter, the position of ASUU-NEC shall be made known to the public. In addition, another committee shall visit the ASUU-FUTO branch with a view to determining the role of members in the controversial appointment and report back to NEC for further action.”

Backstory

In September, Mr Ibrahim was among seven associate professors, otherwise regarded as readers, who were elevated by the governing council of FUTO to the position of professorship at the council’s 186th meeting.

The university, in a statement listed others to include Lawrence Ettu as a professor of civil engineering; Godfrey Emeghara as a professor of maritime management technology; Okechukwu Onyelucheya as a professor of chemical engineering; Alex Opara and Chikwendu Okereke as professors of geology, and Conrad Enenebeaku as a professor of chemistry.

Mr Ibrahim, who recently attracted a public storm over past controversial religious comments which many described as inciting and disturbing was also criticised over the appointment.

The university was also not spared as many scholars and activists described the minister’s appointment as patronising and “an assault to Nigeria’s academic system.”

The backlash led to ASUU national leadership’s decision to set up a probe committee through its Owerri zone.

The report of the committee, which was last week leaked in the media, had cleared the minister, noting that the appointment followed due process.

The union, apparently dissatisfied, has, therefore, appealed to Nigerians to await the report of another committee it had set up during its executive council meeting at the weekend.

It listed reasons for its doubt of the committee’s report and also pledged to investigate its members’ roles in the alleged fraudulent appointment.

https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/495534-futo-ASUU-rejects-own-committee-report-confirming-ministers-professorship.html
Lalasticlala
Mynd44

Well done ASUU

That FUTO VC needs to be thoroughly investigated for corruption. She messed up big time.

Legalising illegality.Why is Isah Pantami desperate to legalize a haram fraud of a dubious academic professorialship tells of the desperation to shore up his already battered image.

Even ABTU where Pantami started his radicalism refused to give him the title but those paid ASUU-FUTO members fell in for the self-confessed BH terrorists advocate.So all those involved in this fraud must be made to face the music.

What a shame

Supreme Court governor must have a hand in it

Whoever is behind the oluwole elevation should be identified and bestowed with a one year compulsory sit-at_home with strict enforcement by unknown gunmen

Nice one. They should ensure that those who collected money and gave the Pant, fraudfessorship, face the consequences. From the new VC down to the Secretary of ASUU, futo chapter.

Patanmi's Proffersorship needs to be checked and rechecked.

It needs to be seriously investigated!!!!

His own northern universities did not give professor .... Only for him to come down to east and collect professor .,.. chaiii who use supreme Court governor swear for imo state ehn .... E no go better for that person

Islamophobes everywhere.

Professor ship must be by character and learning.

If this affair had happened in another Zone of Nigeria, our patriots from the Southeast would have poured ground pepper in our eyes. But like every other ugly development in their Zone, it's either that the outcry that attended this Pantami gift is uncalled for or that they're being marginalised because they are Igbo. Lord save us from sharp tongues and dull perception.

Nice..

Supreme Court governor won't be happy with this news.

Pantami should be a professor of terrorism on a normal day.
that's the only professor good for him

useless criminal terrorist

He graduated with first class, he has been an academic for long and he was an associate professor.
Unless for non academic reasons, I don't see why there should be any rancour over this.
Or it's because he is a northerner?

Funny goment

And Buhari is not corrupt.

Professor can be given just like dat, like former Gambian president.

We wish ,Apc can take us to where GEJ, left us

Incognito403:
Islamophobes everywhere.

They are already invading this threads. Most of them practice ethno-religious bigotry. Now imagine what that bigot teaches students in his school.

APC used Hope Uzodinma to bring war to Imo state, now they've moved on to ridiculing FUTO, an institution the East takes pride in. Exactly the same reason why they tried so hard to force Andy Uba in, so that they'll use him to frustrate the likes of innoson and cripple the economy of the east.

God pass them!

I pray we get it right in this country someday

No single research article with methodology... Not even a university thesis.... Biggest fraud....

Just write up in predatory journals...

His name is on the Saudi list of terrorists...

Whoever gave him that Professorship should be hung by the preeq... Disaster

Interesting times..

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Pantami a professor for what?

Utter rubbish!!!

It will be a deface on the entire ASUU umbrella body if this stands!!!

The truth is that those rejecting the report will do same if they were in same position as the V. C. who is tied to APC's apron strings.
You can see how ASUU is raising questions, most of them got theirs through the back door. Well, undeniable many them in the North doesn't read much to assume that status. They hold the knife, the have the yam.

Nigeria turned upside in buhari regime.

In a sane clime, someone that once said he considered Osama Bin Laden a better Muslim than himself should be nowhere near the corridors of power. But then we run Terrorcracy; a Government of Terrorists by Terrorists for Terrorists.

Why the hate?
There are professors in their 30s. Now does that mean the ASUU FUTO are not members of ASUU? He was elevated by the institution run by same ASUU. They kick in and form a team to investigate, now after the investigation they are rejecting the recommendation of their team they are to form another team? If this is not vindictive then what is?
Or is it because he is a Muslim? All the other professors elevated together with him nobody is doubting their elevation, or is it coincidence?
Here is his Biography
Isa Ali Ibrahim, PhD (Pantami) is the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Professor Ibrahim obtained a Bachelor of Technology in Computer Science (B.Tech), from the Federal University of Technology, known as the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi, and proceeded to acquire two Masters Degrees from the same institution in quick succession. One in Computer Science (MSc) and the other, an MBA in Technology Management. His scholarly pursuits then led him to the Robert Gordon University Aberdeen, Scotland, United Kingdom, where he obtained a Doctorate in Computer Science (PhD), specializing in Computer Information Systems. He is also a Professor of Cybersecurity.

Prior to his appointment as a Minister, he was the Director General (DG)/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). He is currently the Chief Digital Officer of the Federation, based on the National Policy for Virtual Engagements in Federal Public Institutions. He has also been a Chairman and member of several Presidential and Inter-Ministerial Committees, including Committee on Citizen Data Management and Harmonization, National Committee on Export Promotion, Digital Identity Ecosystem Steering Committee, National Action Committee on African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA). He was also appointed as AfCFTA Champion for Communications and Digital Economy, as well as Chairman, Presidential Steering Committee for National Identity.

Under the leadership of Professor Ibrahim, as the first Minister of Digital Economy, a National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (2020 - 2030) and National Broadband Plan (2020 - 2025) were developed, among others, and many unprecedented successes recorded. In less than a year, as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, the lingering issue of excessive Right of Way charges and vandalism of telecommunication infrastructure have been effectively addressed. Under his stewardship, broadband penetration increased by more than 10% in a year, instead of the average annual increase of about 1.7%, and the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) sector contributed an unprecedented 17.83% to the GDP based on the Q2 2020 GDP Report by National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The ICT sector was also the fastest growing sector of the Nigerian economy in the 4th Quarter of 2020, growing at a rate of 14.70%. He initiated the first Virtual Federal Executive Council and first National Security Council meeting on the 13th of May 2020 and has been coordinating the technical aspects of the meetings since then. This saved government money running into billions of Naira monthly.

Recently, his achievements have led to him being recognised and awarded with; the 2020 Minister of the Year Award by the Blueprint Newspaper; Most Outstanding Minister of the Year 2021 by Elite Exclusive Magazine; and Digital Economy Driver Award by the National Body of Nigeria Information Technology Reporters Association (NITRA), amongst others. In fact, he has received over 150 awards from 2017 to date.

Professor Ibrahim also holds certificates in Digital Transformation from Harvard University, Digital Strategy from both Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Institute of Management Development (IMD), Lausanne, Switzerland, Strategic Leadership from Oxford University, and a University of Cambridge Certification in Management. The dynamic, inspirational agent of transformation is also a conflict resolution expert with national and international experiences in that regard. Professor Ibrahim lectured at various universities for almost two decades, teaching ICT courses. He is still engaged with the academia voluntarily, as a professor. During his early days, Professor Ibrahim was a lecturer at the Federal University of Technology, Bauchi.

Ibrahim is a recipient of several global awards and is a well sought-after speaker, delivering convocation lectures in a number of public and private universities, including the Federal University of Technology Minna, the Nile University, the Federal University Kashere and the National Defence College, among others. He has also served as a Speaker at leading global events like Mobile World Congress (MWC) Barcelona, Gulf Information Technology Exhibition (GITEX) in Dubai, the GSMA Africa Policy Leaders Forum, the Consumer Electronics Show (CES), Las Vegas and International Telecommunications Union (ITU) events, amongst others.

As an expert in key fields like the digital economy and cybersecurity, he also teaches and serves as a resource person to several institutions, including the
*National Defence College.
*Federal University of Technology Owerri, Imo State.
*Nigerian Army Resource Centre.
*National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies.

He is the Champion of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Regional Entrepreneurship Acceleration Program (REAP), Abuja- a global initiative that helps regions accelerate economic growth and promote social progress through Innovation-Driven Entrepreneurship (IDE). He has published several academic articles in high impact journals, presented papers in more than 150 conferences and published several books. He has also visited over 30 countries.

Isa Ali Ibrahim who is popularly known as the Digital Minister, is a global IT citizen, a revered and highly respected Fellow of the Nigerian and British Computer Societies, as well as a Fellow of Cybersecurity Group of the British Computer Society.
WITH ABOVE CV IS HE NOT QUALIFIED TO BE A PROFESSOR? OR RATHER HOW MANY PROFESSORS HAVE THIS CALIBER OF CV?

Nigeria is the 11th wonder!

BafanaBafana:
He graduated with first class, he has been an academic for long and he was an associate professor.
Unless for non academic reasons, I don't see why there should be any rancour over this.
Or it's because he is a northerner?

There are rules regarding promotions in the academia. Hard rules set in stone. They cannot be bent for any reason. This is not like Idris Kpotum that PMB promoted from CP to IGP, three steps promotion which bypassed other qualified AIGs and DIGs.

Is Pantami published in Thomson Reuters and other online academic journals with web presence? Let him present his CV for public scrutiny. Let us know what he has published in terms of books, research papers, journal materials, etc. Let us also know the report of his three external assessors who are supposed to assess his work and recommend him for professorship.

What was the outcome of the internal interview after his external assessors reports (if any)? Did he spend the required minimum of three years between one position and the next? These are all questions to be answered.

Maxymilliano:
Whoever is behind the oluwole elevation should be identified and bestowed with a one year compulsory sit-at_home with strict enforcement by unknown gunmen

Good

Sorry to say this but I would say what an has a man won't do in his own place and igbo man would do it for the sake of money even on his own bed.whoever is the VC of futo should have rejected the money and tell pantammi to go to the northern part where he is from and get his professorship from but as I said ego will always make igboman do anything