Popular NY blogger draws lessons from Pantami's book "Skills Rather Than Just Degrees"

A famous New York-based blogger and digital creator, Hassan Sas Bangura, has drawn ten solid lessons from the book titled “Skills Rather Than Just Degrees” by the Nigerian ex-minister of communication and digital economy, Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami.

Reviewing the book (published and presented in March by Brad Smith, President of Microsoft Corporation), Bangura highlighted that academic qualifications without practical knowledge are not sufficient for a successful career pursuit.

He added that skills (what you can do with your knowledge) are the new means of exchange in the labour market and not the common degrees held by everyone.

The blogger emphasized the need to scale up technological training for the workforce in order to benefit the economy and meet global demands.

Bangura, therefore, called for a global education review from a degree-focused to a skill-based education system.

The lessons go thus:

1. In today’s rapidly changing world, academic qualifications alone are no longer enough to secure a successful career.

2. Skills are the new currency of the job market, and those who possess them are the ones most likely to succeed.

3. We must invest in training to ensure that our workforce has the skills needed to compete in a global economy.

4. The future belongs to those who can adapt, innovate, and learn new skills quickly and efficiently.

5. A skills-based education system will not only benefit individuals, but also businesses, industries, and the economy as a whole.

6. We need a paradigm shift from a degree-focused education system only to one that focuses on developing practical skills and competencies.

7. Employers today are looking for candidates who can hit the ground running, with the skills and knowledge needed to succeed in their roles.

8. It’s time to rethink our approach to education, and prioritize the development of practical skills that can be applied in the real world.

9. Skills are the key to unlocking opportunities, driving innovation, and creating a brighter future for all.

10. In the modern workplace, success depends not on what degree you have only, but on what skills you bring to the table.

Professor Pantami is a prolific writer, scholar and technology advocate. He has various books and academic journals to his credit. Pantami was a lecturer at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, in Information Technology before joining the Islamic University of Madinah at the new faculty of Computing and Information Systems as Head of Technical Writing in 2014.