Prof Ibrahim Gambari
By Our Reporter
Professor Agboola Ibrahim Gambari who was appointed as his new chief of staff by President Muhammudu Buhari is the senior operational member of the Office of the President of Nigeria. The Chief of Staff is the principal channel of communication between the president and the government. They also have responsibility for the official programme and correspondence of the President. Through these roles the position wields considerable influence.
Professor Agboola Ibrahim Gambari was appointed to replace the late Abba Kyari who died of COVID-19.
The Chief of Staff is appointed by the President and does not require confirmation from the Nigerian Senate.
He was born on November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State, he is a scholar and diplomat. He was Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985. Gambari was appointed by the secretary-general of United Nations Ban Ki-moon and the chairperson of the African Union Commission as Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur effective from 1 January 2010.
He was the Special Adviser on the International Compact with Iraq and Other Issues for the Secretary-General of the United Nations. Previously, he served as the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations (USG) for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA). He was appointed on June 10, 2005, and assumed the post on July 1 of that year.
On March 4, 2013, Ibrahim Gambari was named by the Kwara State Governor, Abdulfatah Ahmad, as the pioneer chancellor of the Kwara State University, making him the ceremonial head of the university who presides over convocations to award degrees and diplomas and also supports the vision and mission of the university in all respects, including fundraising, social, economic and academic goals. As a university that continues to gain credence as a community development university with world class standards, the selection of Gambari is expected to give the institution additional international boost and recognition. Gambari is also co-chair of the Albright-Gambari Commission.
