By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, has urged Northern Muslims to invest more strategically in media and communication platforms, warning that the region faces a widening “strategic communication gap” that affects its representation in national discourse.
Pantami made the call during a recent public address in northern Nigeria, where he argued that while substantial resources are often directed toward building mosques and religious institutions, comparatively little attention is paid to establishing strong media platforms capable of shaping narratives, countering misinformation, and projecting intellectual influence. According to him, effective communication is no longer optional in a digital age defined by perception battles and rapid information flows.
The former minister emphasized that strategic communication plays a central role in governance, policy advocacy, and social cohesion. He noted that communities that fail to invest in media ownership and digital platforms risk being misrepresented or marginalized in national conversations. His remarks come at a time when Nigeria continues to grapple with misinformation, sectarian tensions, and political polarization amplified by social media.
Pantami’s position aligns with broader scholarly arguments on media power. Professor Kwame Karikari, Executive Director of the Media Foundation for West Africa, has long maintained that “media ownership and control significantly shape whose voices are heard and whose interests are protected.” Similarly, communication scholar Professor Umaru Pate of Bayero University has argued that Northern Nigeria’s media presence remains underdeveloped relative to its population size and political weight, limiting its ability to frame its own narratives.
Critics, however, caution that calls for faith-based media expansion must not blur the constitutional principle of state neutrality. Nigeria’s 1999 Constitution prohibits the adoption of any state religion, and policy analysts stress that investments in media must strengthen professional journalism rather than promote sectarian propaganda. Dr. Akin Akingbulu, Executive Director of the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development, has consistently warned that sustainable media growth depends on independence, credibility, and adherence to ethical standards.
What makes Pantami’s intervention significant is its timing. Nigeria’s information ecosystem is increasingly shaped by digital influencers, private broadcasters, and online platforms. In such an environment, communities without structured communication strategies often struggle to counter narratives that may misrepresent their interests.
The core of Pantami’s argument is strategic, not theological. He is advocating resource reallocation toward media infrastructure, digital literacy, and communication capacity-building as tools for influence and development. Whether this call translates into concrete institutional investment remains to be seen. Though the message is clear: in the battle of ideas, silence is not neutrality; it is disadvantage.
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