BIOGRAPHY OF PROF. IBRAHIM AGBOOLA GAMBARI, CFR AND HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH PRESIDENT
Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari was born in Ilorin, Kwara State on November 24, 1944. He attended Kings’ College, Lagos, the London School of Economics, and Columbia University, New York. He holds the B.Sc., M.A. & Ph.D. degrees in Political Science, with bias in International Relations.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari has had a distinguished and fulfilling career as an academic, diplomat and international public servant. From 1969 to 1974, he was a Lecturer successively at the City University of New York and the State University of New York [Albany].
Returning to his country, Nigeria, he joined the faculty of Ahmadu Bello University [ABU], Zaria as a Senior Lecturer in 1977 and attained the rank of Professor in 1983. As Head of Department of Political Science at ABU, he established Nigeria’s first undergraduate programme in International Studies.
In October 1983, Professor Ibrahim Gambari was appointed Director-General of the prestigious Nigerian Institute of International Affairs, he was named the country’s Minister of External Affairs a few months later, in which capacity he served until August 1985.
Shortly after his return to ABU, the much sought-after intellectual was invited as Visiting Professor to John Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; and further teaching schedules at Georgetown University and Howard University – both in Washington, D.C. He subsequently served as a Research Fellow at Brookings Institution, Washington D.C.; and a Resident Scholar, Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Study & Conference Centre, Italy.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari’s career witnessed another significant boost with his appointment as Nigeria’s Permanent Representatives to the United Nations Headquarters, New York. Among other landmarks of his tenure, he was a senior member of the Nigerian Delegation to ten consecutive sessions of the General Assembly [44th to 54th], served as President of the Security Council on two occasions, and chaired the UN Special Committee Against Apartheid. In the same vein, he chaired the UN Special Committee on Peace-Keeping Operations for some 9 years; and served as a Trustee of the UN Institute of Training & Research, and President, Executive Board of UNICEF.
Nigeria’s longest serving Ambassador/Permanent Representative to the United Nations [1990–1999], Professor Ibrahim Gambari joined the United Nations Secretariat in December 1990. Over the following 13 years, he was actively involved in several conflict resolution missions on behalf of the UN. For six tense months, he served as Special Representative of the Secretary-General & Head of the UN Mission to Angola (UNMA) – facilitating the successful conclusion of the peace process of the Lusaka Protocol.
In 2005, he was appointed Under-Secretary-General of the UN for the Department of Political Affairs, in which position he performed creditable. Barely four years later, the UN Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission invited him to serve as Joint AU-UN Special Representative for Darfur [Sudan]. That critical assignment over, he was named Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the UN Secretary-General.
The erudite scholar has authored quite a number of publications, including books, articles and presentations, which have become reference sources for scholars and researchers across the world.
The pioneer Chancellor of Kwara State University, Ilorin, Professor Gambari is a Commander of the Federal Republic [CFR]. He is the first African to be named Honorary Professor by Chugsan University [founded by & named after Dr. Sun Yat Sen, leader of the 1911 Peasant Revolution and pioneer President of Nationalist China]. He was also honoured with the University of Bridgeport, USA Honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters; and Membership of the prestigious Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars.
Happily married with children, Professor Ibrahim Gambari is currently the Founder/Chairman, Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development — a think-thank for research, training & public policy.
ON THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BUHARI AND PROF GAMBARI
It is no longer news that President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed renowned diplomat and academician, Professor Ibrahim Gambari as his new Chief of Staff replacing Malam Abba Kyari who died in April as a result of complications from the deadly Coronavirus.
With Gambari's entrance into the Presidency, many have been left surprise because they have been various speculations before now that Abba Kyari's replacement would be another diplomat from the core northern part of the country.
The President however shocked many when he decided against a core politician for a world recognized scholar and foreign affairs expert.
However, unknown to many, President Buhari and Professor Ibrahim Gambari come from way back. In 1984 when the then Major General Muhammadu Buhari emerged the Head of State after a coup d'etat, he appointed Gambari as his Foreign Affairs Minister. Gambari served the government until 1985 when another coup brought in General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida.
Ever since that period, Buhari and Gambari have remained close associates. It is also iconic to note that Gambari is from Ilorin, the same town as Buhari's late former sidekick, Tunde Idiagbon. He is also a close relative of the Emir of Ilorin, Alhaji Ibrahim Sulu Gambari.
However, in 2019 and barely six months into President Buhari's second term as a civilian ruler, he paid glowing tributes to his friend, Gambari whom he praised for "providing wise counsels to leaders at various levels of governance and administration".
The President's celebration of the renowned academician and diplomat was on the occasion of his 75th birthday on November 24, 2019.
In a statement signed by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, the President celebrated Gambari for "for a life of exploits in diplomacy, academia and administration, both at the national and international levels, and painstakingly following up on developmental issues and global targets that will impact the livelihood of the poor and underprivileged."
Ironically, less than six months after that statement, Prof. Gambari will now be serving as the President's Chief of Staff and obviously, closest advisor.
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