Ibrahim Gambari, the Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, claims that Nigeria, which is expected to surpass China and India in terms of population by 2050, merits a permanent place on the United Nations Security Council.
Speaking to members of the Legislative Mentorship Initiative (LMI) on a learning visit to the State House over the weekend, Mr. Gambari noted that, given its contributions to international peacekeeping and economic potential, Nigeria cannot be disregarded in international affairs.
The Chief of Staff added that President Buhari will be remembered for his legacy of holding free and fair elections and for making significant investments in the nation’s infrastructure.
He claimed that the president has established a strong framework for youth empowerment.
Mr. Gambari, who served as Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Permanent Representative to the UN in New York, first Under-Secretary-General, and Special Adviser to UN Secretary-General on Africa (1999-2005), addressed Nigeria’s push for the expansion of the 15-member Security Council in the following way:
“I consider you fortunate to have been born in Nigeria. According to UN estimates, Nigeria will have the third-highest population in the world by 2050, behind China and India.
“A nation that ranks third in terms of population must continue to be powerful, rich, and united. It also cannot be disregarded in international affairs.
“If you are the third most populated country in the world, you cannot neglect its people and potentials, thus the push for a permanent seat in the United National Security Council will receive huge support.”
Regarding President Buhari’s legacies, particularly his adherence to the term limit set forth in the Constitution, Mr. Gambari said:
“Mr. President will be remembered for his dedication to ensuring that this nation holds free and fair elections. He has often stated that Nigerians must be respected, that their votes must count, and that he intends to leave office by May 29, 2023, when the current administration ends.
The chief of staff went on to say that President Buhari has been a role model for the nation in terms of integrity and accountability in administration.
When discussing the legacies that President Buhari will leave behind, it is crucial to bring up the infrastructure legacy, which includes the 2nd Niger Bridge, the Lagos–Ibadan–Abuja expressway, the Abuja–Kano expressway, the nation’s extensive network of roads and railways, the ports, and the power sector.
Power is crucial to stress since a nation cannot achieve its full potential without it and its infrastructure.
Regarding the president’s dedication to youth development, Mr. Gambari pointed out that the Startup Act 2022, which was just signed and which honors young people’s ingenuity and aims to empower them as successful entrepreneurs, has the youth as its main beneficiary.
Citing achievements in Morocco, Tunisia, and India, he characterized the Act’s anticipated contribution to the national economy as enormous.
Mr. Gambari praised Femi Gbajabiamilla, Speaker of the House of Representatives and founder of LMI, for having a positive influence on young people’s lives by mentoring and training the following generation of public servants.
In order to face the challenges facing the country, he asked the LMI fellows to stay in constant contact with one another, stay focused, and remain one.
“People talk about you as tomorrow’s leaders. It’s a misnomer, in my opinion. Because Nigeria depends on what you do and the role you play, you are already leaders of today.
You Fellows-in-Training are leaders of today since you were chosen out of millions of other candidates, which demonstrates that you are already leaving an impression.
We all began somewhere, Mr. Gambari reminded the LMI program fellows, recalling his humble beginnings at a “village elementary school” in Ilorin, Kwara State. “Do not be intimidated by titles like “Chief of Staff,” he advised.
The Permanent Secretary, Tijjani Umar, welcomed the Fellows-in-Training to State House and spoke with them about the history, purpose, and top goals of State House in helping the president and vice president effectively carry out their duties to Nigeria.
The President and Vice President were also given an explanation of the roles of the Principal Officers by the Permanent Secretary.
Mr. Umar indicated the State House’s top management’s desire to support the effort to develop a new group of public sector executives.
The Speaker was represented by LMI Director Dapo Oyewole, who thanked the permanent secretary and chief of staff for hosting the LMI Fellows-in-Training.
He noted that by letting the Fellows-in-Training enter State House on the final day of their intensive training, “a huge door of possibilities and potential opens to them.”
Tolerant Tilley-Gyado
Director of Information, Assistant
