By Eyo Okpo-Ene
As Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari marks his 80th birthday, I feel deeply compelled to add my voice—one among the many—paying tribute to a man whose scholarship and statesmanship profoundly shaped my academic and intellectual journey. Though I never sat in his lecture hall, I proudly count myself among the countless students across Nigeria who were mentored by his work, inspired by his vision, and transformed by his example.
I was a Political Science student in Nigeria the University of Calabar in the 1980s—a time of military regimes, economic uncertainty, and intense political discourse. The university environment was intellectually alive, and the study of politics in Nigeria was not merely theoretical; it was existential. In that landscape, Professor Gambari stood out as a towering intellectual, one of the few who had bridged the often-separate worlds of academic theory and real-world governance.
His seminal work, “Theory and Reality in Foreign Policy Making: Nigeria After the Second Republic,” was a cornerstone of our reading list. But it wasn’t just a book; it was a masterclass in understanding power, diplomacy, and Nigeria’s role in a changing world. He offered a rare insider’s view into the policy-making process, enriched by his own experience as Minister for External Affairs during a pivotal time in our nation’s history. That blend of scholarship and lived experience gave his ideas a depth and authenticity that was both inspiring and instructive.
Through his writings and public service, Professor Gambari taught us that Political Science was not just about ideologies and systems—it was about engagement, responsibility, and service. He helped us see that Nigeria was not merely reacting to global events, but could play a proactive, principled role on the world stage—if only it had the right leadership and vision. He modeled what it meant to be a patriotic intellectual: grounded in African realities, yet globally fluent.
Perhaps his greatest impact on me was in expanding my understanding of what was possible. As a student, it was easy to be cynical about the disconnect between academic theories and political practice. But Professor Gambari embodied the rare figure who could move seamlessly between lecture halls and diplomatic chambers. He proved that scholarship could inform statecraft—and that principled service could emerge from the ivory tower.
Today, as he celebrates 80 remarkable years, I join the many who honor his contributions to Nigeria, Africa, and the international community. But more personally, I honor him for shaping the way I see the world, for elevating my aspirations, and for showing me—and many others—that knowledge, when matched with purpose, can indeed change the world.
Happy 80th, Professor Ibrahim Gambari. Your legacy is not just written in books or recorded in diplomatic communiqués—it lives on in the hearts and minds of the students you inspired.
NB: Eyo Okpo-Ene is a former Political Science Student
Nigeria, 1980s)
