By Sabi’u Abdullahi
Shaykh Isah Ali Pantami, an academic and author, has challenged the critics of his book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” to a debate at a location of their choice.
This challenge comes after some academics took to social media to criticise the book without reading it, according to a Facebook post by Yakubu Sani Wudil, a close associate of Prof. Pantami.
In the post, Wudil wrote: “Some indirectly criticise without reading the book and, ironically, also go ahead and make recommendations the same with the advocacy of the book.”
He added that Prof. Pantami is ready for an intellectual debate on any campus in Nigeria, saying: “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.”
Wudil invited critics to nominate three representatives for the debate, which will be coordinated by a team of academics including himself, Adeolu Akande, El-Bonga, Dr. Adamu Tilde, and Realoilsheikh.
He stated that the venue, date, and time will be chosen by the critics, as he was quoted as saying, “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.”
Prof. Pantami’s book “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” is currently being translated into other international languages.
According to Wudil, “Praises and thanks are due to the Almighty. Among the 5 books authored by @ProfIsaPantami in the last 2 years, #SkillsRatherThanJustDegrees has been the most popular and impactful by far.”
The debate challenge has sparked excitement in academic circles, with many eagerly awaiting the intellectual showdown.