Eminent international diplomat, and one-time Nigeria’s foreign Affairs Minister, Professor Agboola Ibrahim Gambari was named as the new chief of staff to President Muhammadu Buhari on account of his sterling background as a top-notch consensus builder, excellent team leader whose performances at the United Nations have been globally adjudged as most exceptional , and a scholar with impeccable track records, presidency sources revealed Tuesday night.
The position has been vacant since April 17, following the death of the former Chief of Staff, Malam Abba Kyari. Kyari died of complications arising from Coronavirus infection.
Prof Gambari, a former Under Secretary-General of the United Nations (USG) for the Department of Political Affairs, erstwhile Nigeria’s permanent Representative to the United Nations, and a distinguished Columbia University trained expert in International Relations and Economic development, was appointed to succeed late Kyari on Tuesday.
The 75-year-old scholar is currently the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and other roles for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Recall also that Gambari was Nigeria’s Minister of External Affairs between 1984 and 1985 before he became the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur effective in January 2010, among several roles
On March 4, 2013, Ibrahim Gambari was appointed the pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University, the ceremonial head that presides over convictions to award degrees and also supports the vision of the institution.
Gambari, who has the national title of CFR was born November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State. He was educated at King’s College, Lagos.
He later went to London School of Economics where he obtained his B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with specialisation in International Relations.
In 1970, he earned an M.A. from Columbia University, New York and a PhD in the same school in 1974 with excellent academic accomplishments that speak to the profundity of his intellectual prowess.
Recall that in his long and distinguished career, Gambari has served as external affairs minister under the military regime of Buhari between 1984 and 1985, Nigeria’s Representative in the United Nations, among others.
He is currently the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations and chair of the Savanah Centre for Diplomacy, an Abuja-based policy Think-thank.
Early reactions have been exciting. Many believe that Buhari has made a perfect choice given Gambari’s excellent background as one of NIgeria’s most outstanding citizen of the world, depth of character, international reach, and vast accomplishments.
Though no official announcement has been made yet to this effect, presidency sources confided in The New Diplomat , that the choice of Gambari, who is widely respected across Nigeria and at the international community, would be made public soon.
