Ibrahim Gambari, Buhari’s former chief of staff, appointed…

Ibrahim Gambari, former minister of foreign affairs and diplomat, has been appointed as a visiting scholar at the Center for Africana Studies, University of Pennsylvania, United States.

The appointment was announced by the Savannah Center for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development (SCDDD), an Abuja-based non-governmental organization founded by Gambari.

According to the center, the appointment came into effect on January 1, 2026 and will last until August 31, unless renewed.

The offer was conveyed in a letter dated February 13, 2026, by Wale Adebanwi, director of the Africana Studies center at the University of Pennsylvania.

The University of Pennsylvania, founded in 1740 by American diplomat and scientist Benjamin Franklin, is home to the Center for Africana Studies, which focuses on research and scholarship on contemporary African culture, history, and development.

The SCDDD described the appointment as recognizing Gambari’s contributions to academia, diplomacy, peace and conflict resolution, governance and development.

During his tenure, Gambari is expected to engage students and scholars on global governance issues and share the vision behind the Savannah Center, which focuses on promoting diplomacy, democracy and development.

“The appointment is yet another testament to the global recognition of Professor Gambari’s outstanding contributions in the fields of academia, peace and conflict resolution, good governance and development,” the statement read.

The center added that scholars and students from Nigeria and across Africa will benefit from its engagement at the institute.

Gambari is a professor of political science and international relations who has held several public service positions. He served as chief of staff to the late President Muhammadu Buhari.

He also served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs and as the country’s Ambassador and Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

The Savannah Center congratulated Gambari on his appointment, expressing confidence that his experience and expertise will contribute to the work of the Center for Africana Studies. [TheCable]

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