BY CHUKWUMA NNAM
The Governing Council of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri has explained the real reason it approved the appointment of the embattled Minister of Communication, Dr Isa Pantami, as a Professor of Cybersecurity.
A probe panel set up by the Academic Staff Union of Universities, Federal University of Technology, Owerri chapter, insisted that due process was followed by the governing council and the management of the university in the appointment of Pantami, as a Professor of Cybersecurity.
A peep into the five-man panel inaugurated on September 22, 2021, revealed that there were interactions with some stakeholders including the University Registrar and the immediate past Chairman, Committee of Deans, among others.
While there were criticisms of Pantani’s appointment as Professor of Cybersecurity, the FUTO panel, has, therefore, urged the university management to take appropriate actions, including legal action, against those who deliberately tried to drag the image and reputation of FUTO into the mud.
The panel which included Profs M. S. Nwakaudu, G.A. Anyanwu, C. E. Orji, O.P. Onyewuchi and T. I. N. Ezejiofor, said the advertisement for academic and academic support staff vacancies in FUTO for the positions of Professor, Reader, Senior Lecturer and Lecturer appeared in two newspapers on September 21, 2020, and September 22, 2020, respectively.
The Panel Report states: “Dr Isa Ibrahim responded and applied for the post of Professor of Cybersecurity. He was given a temporary appointment as Professor of Cybersecurity in the Cybersecurity Department, for which he was accepted in writing.
“The prima facie case for Dr Isa Ibrahim was presented to the Academic Staff Appraisal and Promotion Committee- Professorial (ASAPC-Professorial) meeting held on 17th March 2021. The Committee discussed the issue and recommended same for approval by the FUTO Council. The Council at its meeting held on the 18th of March, 2021 approved the prima facie case for Dr Isa Ibrahim to be appointed a Professor of Cybersecurity.
“Following the approval of the prima facie case, Dr Isa Ibrahim’s publications and productive works were sent for external assessment. The external assessment returned positive and the Council at its meeting of 20th August 2021 approved his appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity. He was given a tenure appointment as a Professor of Cybersecurity following his appointment by the FUTO Governing Council.
“The panel strongly recommends that the university management should as a matter of urgency take appropriate actions, including legal action, against those who deliberately try to drag the image and reputation of FUTO to the mud.”
