In a powerful address to the Muslim community, a leading academic has framed digital media not merely as a tool, but as a decisive modern battlefield for hearts, minds, and the very propagation of Islamic values. Prof. Umar Pate, Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, issued a compelling call to action, urging the faithful to strategically harness new media to positively influence the global narrative.
Speaking at the inauguration of the newly elected executives of the Adamawa Muslim Council in Yola, Prof. Pate moved beyond simple encouragement, providing critical context for the urgency of his message. He highlighted the unprecedented connectivity of the internet, where ideas can circle the globe in seconds. More strikingly, he contextualized this within the coming technological revolution, noting forecasts that “in the next five years, 92 million jobs would vanish as the result of Artificial Intelligence (AI), robots, and other advanced developments.” This seismic shift, he implied, extends beyond economics to the very fabric of human communication and community, making a proactive digital presence essential for any value system wishing to remain relevant.
Prof. Pate presented a stark, dualistic potential of digital tools, framing them with profound spiritual consequences: “The new media can take a person to Paradise if used positively and it can also lead someone to hellfire when used negatively.” This theological framing elevates the discourse from mere public relations to a matter of individual and collective accountability. He cautioned against the pervasive dangers of the digital space—hate speech, fake news, and misinformation—urging careful and ethical engagement.
The core of his argument, however, was a visionary blueprint for positive utilization. He called for more than just caution; he advocated for skilled, strategic deployment. Effective use of new media, he elaborated, is crucial for “Da’awa” (Islamic outreach and invitation), community coordination, official announcements, and even skills development for the Ummah. This positions platforms like social media, podcasts, and streaming services as modern equivalents of the mosque’s minaret and the public square—essential for education, unity, and growth.
The event also featured endorsements from other leaders who reinforced the call for responsible and unifying leadership. Adamawa State Governor, Ahmadu Fintiri, represented by Commissioner Alhaji Abdullahi Pranbe, tasked the new executives with ensuring justice and fairness. He specifically advised clerics to propagate Islam without bias and to control their utterances—a timely reminder in an age where inflammatory digital content can spread uncontrollably.
Similarly, the Lamido of Adamawa, Alhaji Barkindo Mustapha, through his representative, urged the council to redouble efforts to ensure Muslim unity, recognizing that internal harmony is the foundation for effective external propagation.
In his acceptance speech, the newly inaugurated Chairman of the Adamawa Muslim Council, Alhaji Gambo Jika, accepted the mandate, pledging to continue working for unity and progress. His leadership will now be critically tested in heeding Prof. Pate’s call: to move the council’s mission into the dynamic, challenging, and opportunity-rich realm of digital media, transforming it into a powerful force for propagating authentic Islamic values, promoting peaceful coexistence, and countering the negativity that so often dominates the online world.
