Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari has appointed Agboola Ibrahim Gambari as his new chief of staff, weeks after his predecessor Abba Kyari died of coronavirus, the presidency announced Wednesday.

Gambari’s appointment was announced by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Boss Mustapha, at the Federal Executive Council virtual meeting on Wednesday and further tweeted by Presidency Nigeria thus, “Ibrahim Gambari is the new Chief of Staff to President @MBuhari. He succeeds Abba Kyari, who passed away on April 17, 2020.”

Gambari is a Nigerian scholar and diplomat, and has had an illustrious career, spanning academia, government and international diplomacy.

He remained the under-secretary-general and special adviser to the secretary-general on Africa from 1999-2005.