Background
Gambari, Ibrahim Agboola was born on November 24, 1944 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Gambari, Ibrahim Agboola was born on November 24, 1944 in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria.
Attended, Kings College, Lagos, Nigeria. Bachelor of Science in Political science with a specialty in International Relations, London School of Economic. Master of Arts in Political science/International Relations, Columbia University, 1970.
Doctor of Philosophy in Political science/International Relations, Columbia University, 1974. Doctor of Humane Letters (honorary), Bridgeport University, Connecticut, 2000.
Lecturer of City University of New York, New York, 1969-1974. Assistant professor of State University of New York, Albany, 1974-1977. Senior lecturer of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria, 1977-1980, associate professor in Nigeria, 1980-1983, professor in Nigeria, 1983-1989.
Chairman of department political science University in Zaria, 1982—1983. Director-general of Nigerian Institute International Affairs, 1983-1984. Minister of foreign affairs Government of Nigeria, 1984-1985.
Resident scholar of Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio (Italy) Study and Conference Center, Bellagio, 1989. Ambassador, permanent representative of Nigeria United Nations, New York City, 1990—1999, president, security council, 1994, 1995, under-secretary general, special advisory on Africa, 1999—2002, special rep of secretary-general for Angola, 2002—2003, under-secretary for political affairs, 2005—2007, special envoy to Myanmar, 2007—2009, special advisory on international compact with Iraq & other political issues, since 2007, joint special representative for African Union-United Nations hybrid operation in Darfur Sudan, since 2010. Visiting professor of Johns Hopkins University of School Advanced International Studies, Howard University, Washington, Georgetown University, Washington.
Research fellow of Brookings Institute, Washington, 1986—1989. Honorary professor of Chugsan University, Guangzhou, China, 1985. Guest scholar Wilson Center International Scholars Smithsonian Institute, Washington.
Chair of National Seminar Commemorate 25th Anniversary Organization of American States, Lagos, Nigeria, 1988, United Nations Special Committee Against Apartheid, United Nations Special Committee on Peacekeeping Operations, 1990—1999. Led several of United Nations missions, including the Special Committee against Apartheid mission to South Africa, Security Council missions to South Africa, Burundi, Rwanda and Mozambique. Trustee United Nations Institute Training and Research, 1993—1999.
President of executive board United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund, 1999. Founder of Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development, Abuja, Nigeria.
Member of African Political Science Association. International Political Science Association.
Married to Fatima Oniyangi in 1969: one son one daughter.