Terror-tarnished Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Pantami, is to be honoured alongside other Nigerians for his role in nation building.

Mr Pantami, an Islamic leader, has been in the eye of the storm for some weeks over his past preachments wherein he expressed his sympathy and support for extremist Islamic jihadists such as al-Queda and Taliban and even declared insurgents Boko Haram as his brothers.

Though Mr Pantami suggests he was young when he held extremist views in support of the terrorists, he has failed to come out to renounce them or their activities.

Since his terror-philic past resurged into limelight, the minister has opened up to receiving awards and commendations from groups falling over to seize the moment. 

A tabloid, Elite Exclusive Magazine on Wednesday announced that it had identified Mr Pantami as the “Most Outstanding Minister of the Year 2021.” 

The publisher of the magazine, Ubom Mboutidem, said the minister has put in “outstanding efforts in sustaining information communications technology (ICT) for exponential growth and the digitisation of Nigeria’s emerging economy.”

Mr Mboutidem declared that the emergence of the minister and others was based on a diligent and credible selection process which also included online voting.

Aside from Mr Pantami, the magazine will also award the Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Abdul-Rasheed Na’Allah among other Nigerians.

Mr Na’Allah will receive “The Most Outstanding Vice-Chancellor of the year 2021’’, award for his “clear-cut mission and vision to transform the University of Abuja to a foremost research intensive university.’’

Mr Mboutidem said “we thought it fit that we give them these awards to not only encourage them but also to spur others to also be patriotic to the nation in their various endeavours.’’

The award/dinner night will be held on June 22 and will feature a public lecture session with the theme: “From Restructuring to Secession: Which Way Nigeria”.

(NAN)