Ibrahim Gambari

Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, CFR, OCORT, a scholar-diplomat, is the founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), a non-governmental think tank on research and policy studies on conflict prevention and resolution as well as democratization and development in Africa. SCDDD seeks to promote the evolution of Africa into a prosperous, politically stable and globally respected continent which is motivated by the culture of good governance. 

Gambari, who was the former chief of staff to the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has had an illustrious career, spanning academia, government and international diplomacy, culminating with his appointment as the first United Nations undersecretary-general and special advisor to the secretary-general on Africa (1999-2005). In that capacity, he worked closely with heads of government, key policymakers as well as institutions in the continent to develop the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). During this period, he was concurrently the resident special representative of the secretary-general and head of the United Nations Mission to Angola (2002-03). He has been a delegate to the Assembly of the OAU/African Union as a national delegate (1984-85) and as a member of the UN secretary-general’s delegation (2000-12).