Prof. Pantami Applauds Nigerian Software Engineering Scholar After Successful PhD Defence in Egypt
Professor Isa Ali Ibrahim Pantami, Nigeria’s former Minister of Communications and Digital Economy, has commended the academic resilience and technical ingenuity of Ahmad Ahmad Muhammad, a Kano State indigene who successfully defended his doctoral thesis in Egypt.
Muhammad was awarded a PhD with minor amendments after an intensive three-hour oral defense before an international panel of examiners at Nile University, Egypt. The session, described by attendees as rigorous and intellectually stimulating, culminated in high praise for the originality and practical relevance of his research.
Titled “Extending the Frontier: Advanced Strategies in Trans-Compiler-Based Mobile Code Conversion,” the dissertation addresses a major challenge in modern software engineering — the seamless conversion of mobile applications between iOS (Swift) and Android (Java) platforms.
His work advances the field of transcompilation through four major innovations: automated web-services conversion to ease the transition of cloud-based mobile functions; formal verification using First-Order Logic to mathematically prove equivalence between original and translated code; cross-language library mapping to reduce manual integration efforts; and the integration of Large Language Models (LLMs) to intelligently detect, repair, and refine incomplete code translations.
Commenting on the achievement, Professor Pantami noted that the research contributes significantly to improving efficiency, security, and cross-platform compatibility in mobile software development.
“His thesis adds original contributions to knowledge by enhancing code reliability and scalability,” Pantami said. “These advancements position transcompilation as a practical, industry-ready solution for modern software ecosystems.”
Beyond the technical accomplishment, the defense was marked by emotional depth. Muhammad paid tribute to his late father during the session, reflecting on the personal sacrifices behind his academic journey. Despite the loss, he remained focused and steadfast, supported by his mother, who was present in Egypt to witness the milestone.
“We need many more Ahmads from the North,” Pantami remarked. “He faced personal tragedy but remained committed to excellence. May Allah bless the knowledge acquired and the certificates obtained.”
The research reflects strong international collaboration. It was supervised by Professors Ahmed Hassan, Hala Zayed, and Mohamed ElHelw, alongside Dr. Sahar Selim, with academic mentorship from Professor Jens Knoop. Professor Pantami, who served as an external examiner, recalled establishing a professional relationship with Professor Ahmed Hassan during an international conference in Egypt two years ago.
The successful defense highlights the growing footprint of Nigerian scholars in cutting-edge technological research, particularly in automated programming systems, formal verification, and cross-platform software engineering.