President Muhammadu Buhari has named a new chief of staff in the person of Professor Ibrahim Gambari, who comes from the southwestern Kwara State.
The official announcement confirmed reports on Tuesday that the former diplomat was in line to succeed Abbya Kyari who succumbed to COVID-19 in April.
The announcement was made by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation at the first virtual Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting held today at the presidency in Abuja as various minister joined in.
FEC meetings have been suspended since March 27 when government announced the closure of all borders with a view to contain spread of the coronavirus.
The new chief of staff has had a diplomatic distinguished career he was Minister of External Affairs (1984-1985) and subsequently Ambassador / Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the United Nations (1990-1999).
Professor Gambari also served as Joint AU/UN Special Representative in Darfur and Head of UNAMID (2010-2012).
He is currently a Chairperson of the Panel of Eminent Persons of the African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM).
Professor Gambari attended the Provincial (now Government) Secondary School, Ilorin, before proceeding to the Floreat Collegium Kings College, Lagos.
He received his BSc (Econs) degree from the London School of Economics (1968) and his MA and PhD in Political Science/International Relations (1970, 1974) from Columbia University, USA.
He has taught at Universities in the Unites States, Nigeria and Singapore, and has to his credit the authorship of a number of books.
He has received several academic and national honours, including the Commander of Federal Republic of Nigeria (CFR), and the Order of the Champion of the Oliver R. Tambo (OCORT) of South Africa.
He is the Pioneer Chancellor of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Ilorin, Nigeria, as well as the current Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council of Bayero University, Kano (BUK). He is married with children and grandchildren.
Nigerias case statistics at close of day May 12 stood at 4,787 with 146 new cases. The number of discharged and deaths stood at 959 and 158 respectively. The new cases were spread across 19 states and FCT, the top three being 57 in Lagos, 27 in Kano and 10 in Kwara.
Office of the President Role of Chief of Staff
The Office of the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces is overseen by the Chief of Staff to the President. The current occupant of that position is Alhaji Abba Kyari,appointed August 27, 2015.
The Chief of Staff manages the Presidents schedule and correspondence, and any other duties that may be assigned by the President.
The Office of the President comprises staff who perform the following functions: Administrative Duties, Protocol, Security and Media.
Remains of Kyari arrives in Abuja for private burial
The remains of the late chief of staff Mallam Abba Kyari was brought to the capital Abuja from Lagos on Saturday morning for a private burial. Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu co
