Angola: President João Lourenço Honours African Statesman Prof Ibrahim Gambari for Lifelong Service to Peace and Diplomacy

By Ajong Mbapndah L

In a ceremony filled with symbolism and reflection, President João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of the Republic of Angola has conferred the Peace and Development Medal, one of the nation’s highest distinctions, on Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, former Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations and former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria.

The award, presented during the official festivities marking the 50th Anniversary of Angola’s Independence, celebrates Professor Gambari’s pivotal contributions to peace, diplomacy, and multilateral cooperation across Africa — and his instrumental role in advancing the Angolan peace process during his years of service with the Nigerian government and the United Nations.

A Presidential Recognition of Africa’s Peacemaker

Approved by President Lourenço, the honour stands as a national expression of gratitude to a man whose quiet diplomacy helped shape the peace that Angola enjoys today.

In a message delivered earlier through the Embassy of Angola in Abuja, Ambassador Dr. José Bamónduinga Zau described the award as “a symbol of deep gratitude and recognition of Professor Gambari’s vital role through the United Nations in advancing the peace process in Angola.”

The Ambassador added that the medal equally reflects “the enduring solidarity and support of the Nigerian people in Angola’s journey toward national sovereignty and sustainable development.”

A Life Devoted to Africa’s Peace and Progress

Professor Ibrahim Gambari ranks among Africa’s most respected diplomats, scholars, and public servants. Over five decades, his career has spanned academia, national service, and international diplomacy.

He served as Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Under-Secretary-General for Political Affairs, and Special Adviser on Africa to successive UN Secretaries-General.

At the United Nations, he played an instrumental role in conflict prevention, mediation, and peacebuilding — from Angola and Darfur to Myanmar and beyond. His efforts in Angola were particularly lauded for helping sustain the dialogue that culminated in the country’s enduring peace after decades of conflict.

Returning to public service in Nigeria, Professor Gambari was appointed Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, where he continued to champion good governance, regional stability, and Africa’s integration into global decision-making.

Angola at 50: Celebrating Peace, Unity, and Renewal

The conferment of the Peace and Development Medal formed part of the broader celebrations of Angola’s Golden Jubilee, a landmark moment reflecting on five decades since independence from Portugal in 1975.

The historic event in Luanda brought together African leaders, diplomats, cultural icons, and international partners — all commemorating Angola’s journey from war to stability, and from reconstruction to prosperity under President Lourenço’s leadership.

President Lourenço’s administration has made peace consolidation, economic diversification, and Pan-African cooperation central to Angola’s diplomatic outreach. The recognition of Professor Gambari thus symbolized the country’s appreciation for friends and partners who stood by Angola in its most difficult years and continue to support its development agenda today.

A Bridge Between Nations and Generations

The honour bestowed on Professor Gambari also underscores the deep historical and diplomatic friendship between Nigeria and Angola — two nations that share common ideals of self-determination, regional solidarity, and African renaissance.

Through platforms such as the African Union, ECOWAS, and the United Nations, both countries have continued to cooperate in promoting peace, democracy, and development across the continent.

For Angola, recognizing Professor Gambari at this defining moment — the country’s 50th year of independence — affirms its gratitude not only to an individual but to the spirit of Pan-African unity and shared destiny.