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Ambassador Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari To Deliver Realnews 12th Anniversary Lecture
The management of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, publishers of Realnews Magazine Online, has announced that His Excellency, Ambassador Prof. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, former Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari, and former Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, will deliver the Realnews 12th Anniversary Lecture.
The lecture on “Africa in World Shifting Geopolitics, Matters Arising on Democracy, Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Natural Resources” will be held at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
Ambassador Gambari’s acceptance to deliver the lecture was communicated to Realnews in an email dated April 27, 2027, that he sent, stating: “I am delighted to re-confirm my acceptance in principle of the invitation to deliver the lecture.”
Gambari, a Nigerian academic and diplomat, served as chief of staff to the President of Nigeria from 2020 to 2023. Before this, Gambari was the longest-serving permanent representative of Nigeria to the United Nations from 1990 to 1999, under five Heads of State and Presidents, and minister of external affairs from 1984 to 1985.
While at the UN, Gambari was the President of UNICEF in 1999; and became Under-Secretary-General and the first Special Adviser on Africa to Secretary-General Kofi Annan from 1999 to 2005. He was the Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations for Political Affairs from 2005 to 2007 under Secretary-Generals Kofi Annan and Ban Ki-moon. His last appointment in the UN was from January 2010 to July 2012, when he was appointed by Ban Ki-moon and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission as the Joint African Union-United Nations Special Representative for Darfur.
Born on 24 November, 1944, in Ilorin, Kwara State, Gambari attended King’s College, Lagos, and subsequently went to the London School of Economics where he bagged a B. Sc. (Economics) degree (1968) specializing in International Relations. Later he got his M.A. (1970) and Ph.D. (1974) degrees from Columbia University, New York, United States in Political Science and International Relations.
He taught at the City University of New York before working at the University of Albany and subsequently at Ahmadu Bello University, in Zaria, Kaduna State. From 1986 to 1989, he was a Visiting Professor at three universities in Washington, D.C.: Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies, Georgetown University, and Howard University. He has also been a research fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington D.C. and a resident scholar at the Bellagio Study and Conference Center, the Rockefeller Foundation-run center in Italy. He has authored many books and published articles in reputable journals in foreign policy and international relations, including the ‘Theory and Reality in Foreign Policy: Nigeria after Second Republic’.
The diplomat also served as the Minister for External Affairs between 1984 and 1985 under General Muhammadu Buhari’s military regime, after he was the director general of The Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA).
The lecture will be chaired by Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women’s Country Representative in Nigeria, who will also moderate the panel session.
Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication that thrives on investigative journalism. We have expertise in reporting the oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges. We aim to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they face in their day-to-day activities. We do this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, our objective is to use our investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors we focus on and produce an unbiased report that will influence the government and decision-makers to take actions that will make society better.
Realnews is populated by seasoned journalists who believe strongly in the tenets and ethics of the profession. The online publication believes that journalism as the fourth Estate of the Realm can contribute its quota towards building a fair and just society where fundamental human rights are respected and citizens have the freedom to pursue their interests anywhere in the world without hindrance. Its editors have a combined experience of several decades in active journalism practice and are highly dedicated to serving humanity. Hence its motto: “For God and Humanity.”
Realnews Anniversary Lecture Series was established to commemorate the best minds in our society and to tap from them to enrich the discourse in our national development.
The 11th Anniversary Lecture in 2023 on The Threats of Illicit Funds Flow to the African Economy was delivered by Dr. Edwin W. Harris Jr., Director-General, ECOWAS Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA). The 10th Anniversary lecture in 2022 on “Drug Abuse among Youths in Africa: Implication for Nigerian Economy and 2023 Elections” was delivered by Brig General Buba Marwa, Chairman, and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; 9th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews in 2021 was delivered by Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on “Nigeria in the Unfolding Integration of the African Market: The Oil and Gas Perspective”; 2020 Eighth Anniversary Lecture of Realnews was delivered by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 on Managing COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: The Nigeria Experience; Former President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana gave the 2019 Lecture on Beyond Politics: An Economic Narrative for West Africa while Prof. Mahmood Yakubu spoke on Political Transitions and Africa’s Economic Development: Preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 General Elections at the 2018 Lecture. The 2017 Fifth Anniversary Lecture on African Leadership in a Turbulent Era was delivered by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of Education and former World Bank Vice President. The 2016 Fourth Anniversary Lecture on Security and National Development in Plural Democratic Society was delivered by Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative to West Africa and Sahel; the 2015 Realnews Third Anniversary Lecture was delivered by Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 19, 2015, under the theme: It’s The Nigerian Economy, Stupid? The Second Realnews Anniversary Lecture on Nigerian Democracy: Getting it Right in 2014 was delivered by Professor Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).
A 56-year-old shoemaker identified simply as Anthony has reportedly died by suicide inside the Obudu Main Market in Obudu Local Government Area of Cross River State.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Sunday, August 23, 2026.
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Anthony, who was said to be from Bekwarra Local Government Area, was found dead inside the market, prompting community leaders to shut down the facility.
The leaders reportedly demanded N300,000 from the deceased’s family for cleansing rites, insisting that the circumstances surrounding his death were considered sacrilegious.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Sunday Eitokpah, said the deceased was a 56-year-old man simply identified as Anthony.
Eitokpah said the police had commenced an investigation to establish the circumstances surrounding the death and determine whether foul play was involved.
He said, “Police operatives visited the scene, documented the area, and recovered the body to the mortuary. The circumstances surrounding the death are yet to be established.
“Further updates will be provided as the investigation progresses.”
The police spokesman’s statement indicates that the exact circumstances of Anthony’s death remain under investigation.
The Olubadan of Ibadan, Oba Rasheed Ladoja, has said President Bola Tinubu deserves to remain in office for a long time, citing the performance of his administration.
Ladoja made the declaration on Monday at the flag-off ceremony for the dualisation of the Ibadan-Ijebu Road in Ogun State, where Tinubu was represented by Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun.
The monarch said the event should not be interpreted as an All Progressives Congress, APC, rally, despite repeated references to the ruling party during the ceremony.
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“I’ve been hearing everybody talking APC, APC. Bola Tinubu is not an APC man, no. Bola Tinubu is working and deserves to be president for a long, long time,” Ladoja said.
According to him, the gathering was primarily organised to appreciate Tinubu for approving the road project, which he described as important to the safety and economic wellbeing of residents of Ibadan and surrounding areas.
“This is not an APC rally. It is a rally that we are here to thank Mr President for making this road project possible,” he said.
Ladoja said the road had been associated with security concerns, particularly kidnapping incidents, adding that its reconstruction would improve safety and connectivity.
“Those of us in Ibadan know that the only area in Ibadan, where terrorists have been kidnapping people is this road,” the monarch said.
He maintained that Tinubu’s decision to approve the project demonstrated his concern for the people and argued that the President’s performance should not be viewed solely through the lens of party politics.
“He deserves more than being an APC president. He’s not an APC president. He’s president of Nigeria,” Ladoja said.
The Olubadan, however, acknowledged that the President’s performance could strengthen the APC’s chances in future elections.
“The only thing I can look at is that his performance is likely to help the APC win elections. So, we are not discounting the performance of Mr President at all,” he said.
Ladoja added that opposition parties seeking to challenge the ruling party would have to convince voters that they could provide a credible alternative.
“We believe he deserves a long tenure, even though other parties are scrambling to say they are there when they are not visible,” he said.
He expressed confidence that voters in Ibadan would ultimately determine their political choice when the time comes.
“We believe that by the time election comes, the people of Ibadan land will talk,” the monarch said.
The event was attended by Minister of Works, Dave Umahi; Ogun State Deputy Governor, Noimat Salako; APC governorship candidate in Oyo State, Sharafadeen Abiodun Ali; and other dignitaries.
An early Monday morning fire has destroyed several shops at the popular Oranya Market in Ibadan North-East Local Government Area of Oyo State.
The fire, which reportedly started around midnight, affected traders dealing in gold, furniture, second-hand clothes and other goods.
A trader identified as Iya Alia said nearly 300 shops were affected by the inferno.
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“The fire started around midnight. I cannot be specific about that time. And those affected were gold sellers, furniture sellers, second-hand clothes sellers and many others. The shops affected were almost 300.”
Another eyewitness described the incident as devastating, saying close to 300 shops were destroyed.
Confirming the incident, the Special Adviser to Governor Seyi Makinde on Fire Reforms and State Chairman of Fire Services, Morof Akinwande, said the fire started in the middle of the market following an explosion.
He, however, said the exact number of shops destroyed could not yet be established.
“Yes, it occurred. That number we cannot ascertain, but what is known is that some shops were destroyed and the fire incident started in the middle of the market with an explosion.”
Akinwande said it was too early to determine whether the explosion was caused by gas or another source, adding that the situation had been brought under control since about 1am.
“Whether it’s a gas explosion or other things. And when you have a gas explosion, it would spread, but as I am talking to you, the situation has been under control since 1 am.”
He explained that determining the number of affected shops and the value of goods lost would require a post-fire investigation.
“On the number of shops and inventory, that is too early because that’s post-fire outbreak investigation. So, I cannot be accurate about the number of shops that were destroyed. But shops were actually gone.”
The incident comes barely two days after another fire outbreak destroyed nine locked-up shops at the Nigerian Railway shopping complex along the popular Aleshinloye Market in Ibadan South-West Local Government Area.
The August 22 fire reportedly destroyed goods, household items and other properties worth millions of naira.
One of the affected traders, Busari Olayemi, said products worth about ₦21 million were destroyed, including window blinds, curtain fabrics, industrial sewing machines and other equipment.
Oranya Market also witnessed a major fire outbreak in 2024, when more than 200 shops in the herbal section were reportedly completely destroyed.
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