Nominate Your Best 3 For Intellectual Debate – Ex-Buhari’s Minister Pantami Challenges Nigerian Academics

As his 5 books in two years get heavy criticism from them

Author of ‘Skills Rather Than Just Degrees’ and former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy under former President Muhammad Buhari, Professor Isa Pantami, has called on Nigerian academics for intellectual debate.

Pantami made the call on Friday amidst criticism of his books by lecturers in higher institutions displaying their displeasure to his works.

Blaze Newz gathered that large number of graduates from high institutions across the country embraced the book and even inscribed ‘Skills Rather Than Just Degrees’ on T-shirt during their signing out ceremony.

Pantami who noted that academia is about substance and goes beyond making noise on Facebook and other social media platforms added that he is available for debate in this month (May) on any university campus in Nigeria.

Speaking on his books, Professor Pantami said “Among the 5 books authored by @ProfIsaPantami in the last 2 years, #SkillsRatherThanJustDegrees has been the most popular and impactful by far.

“The book is now being translated to other international languages as requested by the natives of these languages). Praises and thanks are due to the Almighty.

“However, a few academics (among our brothers, friends & colleagues) intend to distort the actual message of the book on social media, instead of writing their books to counter or ridiclue the global paradigm shift advocated by the book. Some indirectly criticise without reading the book and, ironically, also go ahead and make recommendations the same with the advocacy of the book.

Photo: Five books authored by Professor Isa Pantami

“As a result, all the academics (our colleagues) who have challenged the book are invited (to nominate the best 3 among them) for an intellectual debate on any campus (University) in Nigeria (of their choice, not for the author to choose) to either challenge the author of the book or defend their arguments before a neutral audience.

“The best 3 selected by them can reach out to the following proposed academics as coordinators of the intellectual public discussion (@yakubwudil, @adeoluaakande, @el_bonga, Dr Adamu Tilde, @Realoilsheikh and any other academic of their choice) preferably in this month (May, 2024).

“In fact, the author will be available for the intellectual debate as early as tomorrow in sha Allah, if the venue is not too far from Abuja. Academia is about substance and goes beyond making noise on Facebook and other social media platforms.

“Finally, the floor is yours to choose the venue, the best among the critics to be adopted by the consensus of all of them, just specify the date & time.

“The best to be selected among our colleagues can intellectually ridicule the author and his book as he still stands on the paradigm shift he advocates.”