Get To Know The New NITDA DG

If you’ve been following the news lately, you may have heard that Dr. Vincent Olatunji is no longer the Acting DG of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA). President Muhammadu Buhari has confirmed the appointment of Dr. Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami as the new Director General of the tech agency.

Here’s his profile as seen on his Facebook page;

Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami is currently a Professor of Computer Information System at the Islamic University of Madinah, as the first Nigerian Citizen ever to teach in the university of more than 63 years of existence.
Furthermore, our beloved Dr Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami was born and Grew up in Gombe State, Nigeria where he obtained his basic knowledge, He Completed his 1st Degree in Computer Science in 2002 at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Bauchi, Msc Computer Science 2008, Master of Business Admin. (Technology) in 2010 via The same University and he obtained his PhD in the United Kingdom.
He authored many books on Religious,Technology, Politics & Community Reconciliation:
RELIGIOUS: Islam and Politics, Synonimity or Dichotomy?,The Essentials O Marriage in Establishing An Ideal Family, Month of The Qur’an & Its Virtues, and 63 Steps Of Performing an Acceptable Hajji & Its Spiritual and Moral Lessons And Many more.

COMMUNAL: The Negative impact of ICT on human health. Volume 2, no 2 Jomatech, 2010, An analysis of e-learning in Nigerian and United Kingdom Universities. Volume 2, no 1, International Journal of Computer and Information Technology, India, Information and Communication Technology, A Tool for Fraud Prevention and Detection. Volume 1, no 2 Jomatech 2008, Data Recovery and Back up Disaster. Volume 2, no 1 Jomatech, 2008, Analysis on the failure of Desktop and Laptop Hardware Components. Volume 2, no 1 Jomatech, 2008
And Many More.

Dr Isa has successfully participated in several Seminars, International & Local Conference and Workshops as Resource person, Speaker, Presenter, Discussant. For example, He participated in NMFUK Conference which held in Newcastle 2011, Leicester, 2013, IT Conference in Paris 2013, Oil and Gas Computing, 2013, National Seminar on Graphing Calculators, University of Mathematics Malaysia, 2008, International Workshop on Family Planning and Reproductive Health, International University of Azhar, Egypt, July, 2006, International Workshop on Ishraaqaatun Qur’aniyya, Islam Today Foundation, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, July, 2007,xi.International Discourse on Islam and Life, Jamaa’atus Sunnah, Diffa, Niger, March, 2007. International Daura Course, Indimi Trust Centre, Islamic University of Madina, Maiduguri, July, 1995, One-Day Seminar on Health, Islamic Medical Association of Nigeria, July, 1997, One-Day Seminar on Islamization of Natural Sciences, FCE, October, 1998, Workshop on Capacity Building Programme, Educational Trust Fund, Abuja, June, 2003,Workshop on Training Programme For Juma’ah Imams, Centre For Islamic Legal Studies, Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, Bauchi State, September, 2006,Train-The-Trainers’ Workshop for Hajj Affairs Officers And Islamic Scholars, Bauchi State Muslim Pilgrims Welfare Board, October, 2006, And National Seminar of IHSAN on Islamic Contemporary Movement Between Laxity and Extremism, September 2009, to mention but few.

His Responsibilities and activities: Presenter on Islamic Lessons/Lectures, GMTV, 
Gombe State 2000-2003, National Television Authority Bauchi State 2004-Date, BRC Radio, Bauchi State 2004-Date, Federal FM,Bauchi State, 2005-Date, BATV Bauchi 2006-Date and also a Member Shurah, Supreme Council For Shari’ah in Nigeria, 2004-Date, Secretary, Bauchi State Organising Committee For The 21st National Qur’anic Recitation Competition of Nigeria.

ATBU Chief Imam 2002-2009, period of seven years.

Some Letters of Appreciation/ Recommendation Received : Major General Muhammad Buhari (RTD) May 29, 2006, Muslim Corpers’ Association of Nigeria, National Headquarters, National Mosque Complex, 19th January, 2004, Alhaji Ahmad Sani (Yariman Bakura) Executive Governor of Zamfara State 4th April, 2006,. For effort in teaching Morality or Sincerity and dedicated towards his work and lastly the chief Imam of New RGU Mosque U.K
Personal Interests Devoting time in spreading knowledge and spend his vast majority of his time researching,writing, teaching and giving legal rulings. Dr Isa Pantami has many lectures on youtube in English, Arabic and Hausa.

 His awards include; Our dear Dr Isa Ali Pantami had memorised Glorious Qur’an by heart in addition to the knowledge of Hadith, Fiqh, Seerah, Nahwu, Balaqah, Lugga and many others he acquired from many prominent Scholars within Nigeria and other countries. Others include appreciation from Pres. Buhari.

 Until Dr. Olatunji’s appointment as Acting DG, he was CSR director at NITDA and now it’s not clear where he goes from here. I assume though that he’ll continue as a director in the organisation or may be transferred to another agency.

NITDA has received its fair share of criticisms over the years with respect to inefficiency and financial mismanagements but to be fair to them, they have also opened quite a good number of startups to opportunities (local and international). We welcome the new DG and wish him well in office.