The Profile of Ibrahim Gambari, The Newly Appointed Chief of Staff 

Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is the newly appointed Chief of staff to the president, Federal Republic of Nigeria. Professor Gambari is a Nigerian scholar and diplomat. Below is a snippet of his profilqe and why he was considered for the prestigious position of the right-hand man to the president after the demise of his predecessor- Mallam Abba Kyari

Gambari is an Economist

Prof. Gambari studied Economics at the London School of Economics where he obtained his B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) with a specialization in International Relations. He later obtained his M.A. (1970) and Ph. D. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, USA in Political Science /International Relations.

At this time when the world is expecting a recession and a possible long depression, the governing bodies of sovereign states, as a matter of urgency need to be surrounded by economists, financial advisers, strategists to prepare the country for what is to come. We can rightly imply that the president’s choice of chief of staff could not have come at a better time than this.

Gambari is an educationist 

Prof. Gambari was the pioneer chancellor of Kwara State University, he hosted events such as convocation ceremony, under his leadership KWASU became the first university in Nigeria with a degree programme in Entrepreneurship.

Gambari started his career at Ahmadu Bello University, in Zaria, Kaduna State, the second-largest university in Africa as a lecturer. He was also a visiting Professor at three universities in Washington, D.C.: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University, and Howard University. He has also been a research fellow at the Brookings Institution also in Washington D.C. and a Resident Scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center, the Rockefeller Foundation-run center in Italy. He was accorded, honoris causa, the title of Doctor of Humane Letters (D.Hum.Litt.) from the University of Bridgeport. He is a member of the Johns Hopkins University’s Society of Scholars. He was decorated with the title of Commander of the Federal Republic (CFR) by the Government of Nigeria.

Abba Kyari Was Dumped By Obasanjo For Atiku – Daura

The country needs to tilt towards education especially as it concerns the educational crisis and the grime illiteracy in Northern Nigeria. Prof. Gambari poises as the number one person to champion such necessary education crisis such as ASUU strike, IPPIS, among other education crisis in the country.

GAMBARI IS A DIPLOMAT

Prof Gambari has the bulk of his work experience in peacekeeping serving in various capacities at the United Nations. He was the former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations for the Department of Political Affairs (DPA)

He was Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985 during the Military regime of General Muhammadu Buhari. Gambari has been 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 is currently 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 the same year.

Considering the level of insecurity in the country, it is expected that his expertise would be brought to bear in areas such as- the Boko haram insurgency, the steaming Kastina killings, and the Fulani herdsmen attacks that have been bothering the country.

Professor Gambari was born November 24, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria, he is 76 years old. This has left many wondering if the youth are really the leaders of tomorrow.