Government of Angola has honoured three distinguished Nigerians late Head of State, General Murtala Ramat Mohammed, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and foremost Diplomat Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari as part of events marking the country’s 50th Independence Anniversary.
The awards, presented in Luanda by President Joaa Manuel Lourenco,recognised and appreciated Nigeria’s timely and decisive role in Angola’s liberation struggle and the country’s enduring commitment to African solidarity and Pan-Africanism.
Professor Gambari, the longest serving Ambassador/ Permanent Representative to the United Nations (1990 to 1999) who later served as United Nations Under-Secretary-General in various capacities including as Head of Department of Political Affairs, personally attendeded the event while the former President Obasanjo was unavoidably absent.
General Murtala Mohammed was honoured posthumously for his bold leadership in recognising Angola’s Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) government in 1975 a move that defied Cold War pressures and opposition from Western powers.
Under his administration, Nigeria provided Angola with a $17 million financial lifeline to rebuild and resist external pressures, earning the country the reputation of Africa’s moral voice.
His successor, General Olusegun Obasanjo, deepened Nigeria’s engagement with Angola, strengthening diplomatic and economic cooperation among newly independent African states.
In a touching tribute at the ceremony, Tangyalamba Veloso, President of the Angola–Nigeria Chamber of Commerce and Industry, hailed Murtala Mohammed’s courage and foresight.
She recounted how Murtala challenged foreign oil companies that threatened to withdraw from Angola, warning them that if they left, they would also lose Nigeria’s market.
According to Veloso, that act of defiance changed the course of Angola’s history.
Observers at the golden jubilee celebration described Angola’s recognition of the three Nigerians as both a heartfelt tribute and a sober reminder of Nigeria’s historic leadership in Africa’s liberation movements.
During the Cold War, while apartheid South Africa and Western allies backed rival factions, Nigeria stood firmly behind the MPLA and the principle of African self-determination.
Angola’s President, João Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço, said the recognition also celebrates Professor Gambari’s long-standing contributions to peace and development on the continent. Gambari, who once mediated peace in Angola under the United Nations, was earlier announced as recipient of Angola’s Peace and Development Medal.
As Angola marks 50 years of independence, the honours bestowed on Murtala Mohammed, Olusegun Obasanjo, and Ibrahim Gambari serve as a powerful reflection of Nigeria’s legacy in Pan-African diplomacy a legacy built on courage, conviction, and solidarity.
As Nigeria’s former Permanent Representative to the United Nations and later Joint Special Representative of the UN and African Union in Darfur, Gambari played a central role in mediating peace in Angola following the Lusaka Protocol.
He supervised the implementation of the peace accord, coordinated humanitarian interventions for displaced persons, and supported post-conflict reconstruction through institution building and human rights advocacy.
His work earned him commendation from the late UN Secretary-General, Kofi Annan, who in 2003 praised his “tireless efforts and exemplary dedication” to the cause of peace and development in Angola.
Professor Gambari, a former Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, remains one of Africa’s most respected voices in diplomacy and conflict resolution.
