By correspondent in Ilorin.
Prof.Ibrahim Agboola Gambari.
Photo credit: Wikipedia.
Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Nigeria’s former United Nations representative, has described his diplomatic career as a surprising twist of fate, diverging from his original ambition to remain a teacher.
Speaking in Ilorin on Thursday at the launch of a book in his honor, “Readings in Diplomacy, Democracy, Peace, and Development,” organized by the Commonwealth Scholars and Fellows Alumni Association Nigeria (COSFAN) to celebrate his 80th birthday, Gambari reflected on his unexpected journey.
“They plan,plan, but God is the best planner, says the Holy Quran. Up till now, I still tell people to refer to me as a teacher by training and diplomat by accident because I did not want to be a diplomat. But look at what the Almighty Allah has done,” Gambari shared.
Born in Bode Saadu, Kwara State, Gambari rose from humble beginnings in village primary schools to becoming the first Nigerian to preside over the United Nations Security Council. He served as Nigeria’s longest-serving ambassador to the UN, navigating the complexities of representing a nation facing internal challenges.
“I served under five presidents: Ibrahim Babangida, Chief Ernest Shonekan, Sani Abacha, Abdulsalami Abubakar, and briefly under President Olusegun Obasanjo,” Gambari noted.
He also celebrated the transformation of his alma mater in Malete into Kwara State University, where he served as the inaugural Chancellor.
Gambari pledged to continue his service to Nigeria, emphasizing a foreign policy approach balancing local, regional, and global interests.
Tijjani Muhammad-Bande, Nigeria’s permanent representative to the UN (2018–2019) and the book’s reviewer, called for addressing poverty, ignorance, and weak traditional laws as root causes of insecurity in Nigeria, particularly in the North.
Kwara State Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, represented by Deputy Governor Kayode Alabi, praised Gambari’s contributions to diplomacy and national development, describing him as a symbol of excellence.
Dr. Abiola Adimula, Secretary of COSFAN, noted Gambari’s mentorship of global scholars and his role as former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari. She described the event as a tribute to his legacy.
The newly launched book, a collection of 34 scholarly articles, will fund a Professorial Chair and research initiatives in Diplomacy and Peace Studies at the University of Ilorin, ensuring that Gambari’s legacy continues to inspire future generations.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
