Nigeria’s Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Prof. Isa Ali Pantami on Wednesday hosted the management of Muslim News Nigeria, led by its publisher, Rasheed Abubakar, at his office in Abuja.
Muslim News, Nigeria’s most authoritative Islamic Newspaper is a 24/7 online and monthly newspaper established to give special media attention and coverage to Muslim personalities and events that do not gain mainstream media attention.
Among its objectives is to celebrate Muslim achievers, who have excelled in different sectors and professions, and make the Muslim community proud, both in Nigeria and globally.
During the third edition of #MNAward2020 organised by Rawshield PR Media, publishers of Muslim News, the Honourable Minister of Communications and Digital Economy emerged as the Nigerian Muslim Personality of the year, while Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan clinched the Global category of the award.
“It is a rare opportunity for us at Muslim News to meet with you today for the presentation of the 2020 Nigerian Muslim Personality Award, won by your Excellency”, said Mr. Abubakar, who appreciated the Minister for his virtual appearance as a Keynote Speaker at the Award Presentation/MN 3rd Anniversary ceremony lecture held recently in Lagos.
According to Abubakar, “Since your excellency couldn’t make it physically for the event, we decided to wait for the right time to formally present the award to you in person today, Wednesday, the 3rd of November 2021.
The Minister, who is popularly known as Sheikh Pantami by his admirers also received the 2020 Minister of the Year from the Publisher, a renowned journalist and the author of Islam and the Media Series 1-4.
“You’d recall, sir that last year, after careful and painstaking assessment of the efforts of current Federal Executive Council (FEC) Ministers between 2019 and 2020, you emerged the best performing Minister in the cabinet of President Muhammadu Buhari.
“These achievements were unprecedented in the history of the Ministry and from our findings, they were realized through the implementations of Digital Economy Projects for a Digital Nigeria and resolution of some key issues that had been lingering for over a decade.
“We’d be presenting you with that award today. Awards aren’t just for jamboree, but to spur recipients to do more within their capacities; in this case, you as the Minister of Communications and Digital Economy for Nigeria. You have represented the Muslim constituency very well. The Ummah is proud of you and other Muslims doing amazing things for Islam. Thank you and God bless you,” Abubakar stated.
The Minister appreciated the honour and award bestowed on him, noting that, “During the award ceremony, I was very busy, but I still tried to make myself available virtually and I consider attending it as a form of encouragement for all of us. I was excited to be there. I was also excited for the celebration of Muslim achievers and I was happy for everything that took place at the event.”
Prof. Pantami commended the management of the newspaper for being consistent, adding that, “you and your team are doing a great work, especially for being consistent and sustaining the newspaper, because it isn’t easy to sustain such an Islamic newspaper, especially in a country like Nigeria, where there is Islamophobia. I know it’s not easy, but try to remain consistent the way you have been for years.”
According to him, “I can’t recall any newspaper that has emerged from our community that has been consistent like yours. Challenges are inevitable. They are the ingredients of success in life. You and your team will encounter a lot of challenges, especially when it comes to patronage, sponsorship and many more. And that is how life is generally.
“If you remain consistent and very honest, Allah will always support you and make you very successful. It’s a matter of time, it will become something big in Nigeria and beyond. The global Muslims will be proud of it.
“I even read some of the news of the event. I don’t usually follow news, but when it comes to Muslim News, I try to follow it. In fact, sometimes I can be offline for a month without reading News, but when I go online, I will go through the history of all that MN has reported and shared. May Allah Ta’ala reward you immensely,” he added.
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