President Muhammadu Buhari has congratulated his Chief of Staff, Professor Ibrahim Gambari, on the occasion of his 76th birthday, describing the eminent international diplomat and renowned professor of international relations as “a remarkable public servant who has put his vast experience and knowledge to the service of the world.”
President Buhari in commending Professor Gambari on his 76th birthday, applauded the distinguished statesman, respected international diplomat and esteemed academic whose phenomenal accomplishments as a consensus- builder and peace-builder have been globally acclaimed. Buhari said, “I am proud of his accomplishments as a senior diplomat.”
While rejoicing with Gambari on his attainment of his new age, Buhari maintained: “It’s impossible to interact with Gambari without being impressed by his erudition and colossal experience in his chosen career.”
The president added: “Having worked with Prof. Gambari during my time as a military Head of State, I am proud to testify that he is one of the most brilliant, dedicated, patient and humble public officials I have ever met.”
“Gambari’s passion for service and patriotism is enviable and worthy of emulation by Nigerians who are seeking to excel in their chosen careers, ” Buhari stated.
Buhari in his statement issued by Garba Shehu, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity eulogized his Chief of Staff for being a down-to earth personality, and possessing the rare ingredients anyone seeking to succeed to be most successful.
Buhari further said of Gambari: “Let me also put it on record that Gambari is not your typical textbook idealist. He is down to earth in his approach to issues and he is a team player, which are necessary ingredients for anyone seeking to succeed,” the President added.
“As you clock 76 on earth, may Allah grant you better health and longer life in order to serve Nigeria and humanity ever more. Your life is worth celebrating because you passionately love your country. I am proud of you and your accomplishments; don’t rest on your oars.”
Gambari who turned 76 on Tuesday is an accomplished international diplomat, statesman, and distinguished professor of international relations whose accomplishments have brought glory to Nigeria, especially at the international front.
Prior to his appointment as Chief of Staff to President Buhari, Prof Gambari has held several strategic positions in the United Nations including serving as UN Under-Secretary-General and first Special Adviser on Africa to the UN Secretary General from 1999-2005.
He was later named Under-Secretary for Political Affairs, a role he played with impressive distinction from 2005-2007, under UN Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-Moon, respectively.
Gambari has also been President of UNICEF, and has performed various leading and commendable roles including being the Chairperson of the African Union Commission as the Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur.
Prior to the above roles at the United Nations, Gambari served as Nigeria’s foreign Affairs Minister, and later Nigeria’s Permanent Representative and Ambassador to the United Nations(UN), New York, respectively. Previously, he was also the Director-General of the Nigeria Institute of International Affairs(NIIA), Lagos, Nigeria.
Gambari schooled at Kings College, Lagos, and subsequently proceeded to the London School of Economics where he earned his BSc degree in Economics in 1968, majoring in International Relations.
He subsequently advanced to Columbia University, New York, United States where he bagged his M.A in 1970 and PhD in 1974 with specialization in Political Science and International Relations, respectively.
In his long and illustrious academic career, Gambari taught and conducted research at universities across Africa, Europe and the Americas including the City University of New York (1969), University of Albany(New York), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Kaduna (Nigeria), Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International studies, Georgetown University and Howard University,(all three in Washington DC, United States).
Similarly, he has also carried out extensive research as a Research Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington DC and as a Resident Scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center in Italy as well as at the Rockefeller Foundation- managed Center in Italy.
Evincing the attributes of a thorough-bred cerebral scholar, Gambari has written variously on subject matters such as diplomacy, foreign policy, international relations, public policy, consensus-building, among others.
Many of his published works including Theory and Reality of Foreign Policy are highly regarded as valuable resource materials in foreign policy and international relations.
His articles have also been published in several international journals on foreign policy, governance, international relations, among others. He has been decorated with the title of Commander of the Federal Republic(CFR).
