Isa Ali Pantami

Isa Ali Ibrahim also known as Sheikh Pantami (born 20 October 1972) is the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy in Nigeria. He was the Director General and CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) of Nigeria from 26 September 2016 – 20 August 2019 when he was nominated as minister and sworn into office on the 21st of August, 2019.[1][2][3] In February 2020, Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau in a nine minute video announced that he had instructed his men to target and kill Pantami for introducing a policy that seeks to block SIM cards to frustrate terrorists activities.[4][5][6][7][8]

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami)

FNCS, FBCS, FIIM, MCPN
Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami)
Minister of Communications and Digital Economy
Assumed office
21 August 2019
Preceded byBarrister Adebayo Shittu
Director General NITDA
In office
26 September 2016 – 20 August 2019
Preceded byMr. Peter Jack
Succeeded byInuwa Kashifu Abdullahi
Head of Information Technology Department
Personal details
Born
Isa Ali Ibrahim

(1972-10-20) 20 October 1972
Gombe State, Nigeria
NationalityNigerian
ChildrenAbdurrahman Isa Ali
ParentsAli Ibrahim
Alma mater

Early life and education

Isa Ali Ibrahim (Pantami) was born on 20 October 1972 in Gombe State, Nigeria.[3][9] His mother was Hajiya Amina Umar Aliyu and his father was Alhaji Ali Ibrahim Pantami.[10] He started his education by attending traditional School for memorizing the Qur'an, called "Tsangaya School.[11]" He spent more than four years in the school. He later joined primary school in Pantami. He attended Government Science Secondary School in Gombe. After his secondary education, he spent additional two years seeking for more religious knowledge before moving to university. He studied Computer Science at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Bauchi, Nigeria, gaining a BTech in 2003 Session and an MSc in 2008,[3][12] before obtaining a PhD from Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen, Scotland.[12] He spent his life pursuing both formal and informal education, by switching from one form to another.

He is also trained on Digital transformation in Harvard University, USA, then Management Strategy in both, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, and Institute of Management Development in Loussaune, Switzerland.[13] He was also in Cambridge University for Management Programme, among others.[14]

Career

Dr Pantami lectured at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University in Information Technology before joining the Islamic University of Madinah as Head of Technical Writing in 2014.[3][12] In 2016, he was appointed as the Director General/CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA).[15][16] He was confirmed by President Muhammadu Buhari as part of 13 newly appointed chief executives for 13 government agencies.[17] His directive for NITDA upon employment was to develop the ICT infrastructure in the North East in the aftermath of the destruction caused by Boko Haram insurgency.[18] Shortly after the WannaCry ransomware attack, he organized the second annual conference on "Financial Fraud and Cyber Crime" in Abuja with the Federal Ministry of Justice and private sector partners.[19] He also initiated the Nigerian national public key infrastructure (PKI) programme, and went into a security partnership with ESET, an IT security company that offers anti-virus and firewall products.[19][20]

Achievements

Dr Pantami is the first Minister of Communications and Digital Economy after the redesignation of the Ministry's Name to include responsibilities for creating and formulating Policies for a sustainable Digital Economy for Nigeria. He has hitherto received an award as the "ICT Promoter of the Year 2017" in London by The Nigerian in recognition of "positive contributions to the ICT revolution in Nigeria, youth empowerment & good governance".[19][21][22] Within little less than 3 years of his stewardship, he has received over 110 awards and recognitions both within and outside Nigeria.

Dr Pantami is a fellow of both British Computer Society (FBCS) and Nigeria Computer Society (FNCS).[11] He also has many fellowships to his credit.[23][11]

Religion

Dr Pantami is a Jumu'ah Chief Imam[24] who has been leading the Jumu'ah prayer for over 20 years in both Nigeria and the United Kingdom.[25] He serves as a Member of Shari'ah Board of Jaiz Bank. He is also a Shurah member and Deputy Secretary General of the Supreme Council for Shari'ah (SCS) in Nigeria.[26] He was educated in Islam by scholars including Muhammad Umar Fallatah, Muhammad ibn al Uthaymeen and Abdulmuhsin ibne Abbad.[25] He also is the Chairman of Board of Trustees of Al’Hudah Islamiyyah & Mosque Foundation, and a member/secretary of Bauchi State Elders Advisory Committee and Bauchi state National Qur’anic Competition Committee among other committees. He had debated with Mohammed Yusuf, the leader of Boko Haram, against Salafism in 2008.[27][28]

Publications

Dr Pantami is an author of books on ICT, STEM, technology, politics & community reconciliation, religion and peaceful coexistence, as well as some publications in international journals, including International Journal of Innovative Research in Engineering and Management (IJIREM), Macrotheme Review, and International Journal of Computer & Information Technology.[3][12] His Publications and Presentations at various Fora can be accessed from his Profile on Research Gate.

Religious books authored by him include Islam and Politics, Synonimity or Dichotomy?, The Essentials of Marriage in Establishing An Ideal Family, Month of The Qur’an & Its Virtues, and 63 Steps of Performing an Acceptable Hajji and Its Spiritual and Moral Lesson.[29]

Controversies

In June 2017, rumor spread in Nigeria that Pantami has led the conversion of Solomon Dalung, the Minister of Youths and Sports, from Christianity to Islam at the an-Noor Mosque Abuja, Nigeria. The rumor was protested by both Pantami and Dalung.[30][31] There have been allegations that Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was investigating the 2017 spending of NITDA, though Pantami and Adebayo Shittu, the Minister of Communications, claimed that no such investigation happened.[32][33]

References
  1. "Buhari swears in ministers (LIVE UPDATES)". Premium Times. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  2. "21 August 2019" (21 August 2019). Punch Newspapers. 21 August 2019. Retrieved 21 August 2019.
  3. Meet the New NITDA Director-General-Dr Isa Ali Pantami, Sahara Standard
  4. "Boko Haram: Shekau threatens Buhari, Buratai, Pantami in new video". Tribune Online. 15 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  5. "Shekau threatens minister, journalists in new video". The Nation Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers. 16 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  6. "Why Boko Haram leader threaten Nigeria minister - Bulama Bukarti". BBC News Pidgin. 17 February 2020. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  7. editor (16 February 2020). "In New Video, Shekau Threatens Communication Minister, Journalists". THISDAYLIVE. Retrieved 19 February 2020.CS1 maint: extra text: authors list (link)
  8. "Boko Haram: Shekau threatens communications minister, mocks Buhari in new video". Punch Newspapers. Retrieved 19 February 2020.
  9. who is Shaikh Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami?, Daily Media
  10. Buhari condoles NITDA boss over mother’s death, Punch
  11. "Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, PhD, FNCS, FBCS, FIIM". NITDA. Retrieved 25 May 2020.
  12. Pantami, National Information Technology Development Agency
  13. "Know the pedigrees of Buhari's new ministers (Part 1) - P.M. News". www.pmnewsnigeria.com. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  14. "CHECK OUT THE BACKGROUND OF BUHARI'S MINISTERS (1) – Abuja Reporters". abujareporters.com.ng. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  15. "NITDA'S New DG/CEO, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, PhD Assumes Duty". NITDA. 30 September 2016.
  16. Dr. Isa Ali Pantami Is The New Director-General Of NITDA, TechCabal
  17. President Buhari appoints professor as new NITDA DG, Pulse
  18. NITDA To Comply With Presidential Directive On Redeployment Of ICT Infrastructure In North East, Nigerian Television Authority
  19. NITDA Boss Shines As Nigeria’s ICT Promoter of Year 2017 By Simon Onmeje, The Nigerian
  20. Enforce your mandate and implement PKI programmes, Osinbajo tells NITDA, IT Pulse
  21. Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, DG NITDA Wins Awards of “ICT Promoter of the Year” In London, Inside Arewa
  22. the Pantami revolution in NITDA, Daily Trust
  23. newsthelinks. "Biography Of Dr Isah Ali Pantami Hon Minister Of Communication Federal Republic Of Nigeria | The Links News". Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  24. Meet the new heads of agencies, Daily Trust
  25. Executive Profile, Bloomberg
  26. Friday Afternoon Roundup – Profiles in Outrage, Right Side News
  27. Alex Thurston, ‘The disease is unbelief’: Boko Haram’s religious and political worldview, Center for Middle East Policy
  28. Alexander Thurston, Salafism in Nigeria, page 229, Cambridge University Press, 2016, ISBN 1107157439
  29. Buhari appoints Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the new DG for NITDA, CUPSTV
  30. Dalung Denies Converting To Islam, ‘I Belong To Christian Realism’, The Whistler
  31. Minister of Sport Solomon Dalung has not accepted Islam - Dr Isa Ali Pantami, i-Media TV
  32. Hukumar EFCC Ba Ta Bincike Na – Sheikh Isa Ali Pantami, Al'Ummata
  33. NITDA’S 2017 budget not under investigation by EFCC, Premium Times
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