Just In : Nigeria’s Ambassador To  France,Ibrahim Kayode Laaro,Is Dead.

Governor AddulRahman AbdulRasak of Kwara State has described as shocking and devastating the death of Nigeria’s Ambassador to France, Ambassador Ibrahim Kayode Laaro, praying to Allah to forgive him and grant him al-jannah Firdaus.

The Governor said in a statement issued on Friday night by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Rafiu Ajakaiye, that the death of the topflight career diplomat was one sad event too many, and urged the family to find comfort in his legacies as a statesman and his contributions to human capital development in Nigeria and Kwara State.

“On behalf of the government and people of our state, the Governor sends his heartfelt commiserations to the Federal Government of Nigeria, the diplomatic community where he was a top player till his death, the Ilorin Emirate as a whole, and his immediate and extended family.

“The Governor beseeched Almighty Allah to ease the accounts of the deceased, admit him to Al-jannah Firdaus, and ease the affairs of everyone that inherits his fine legacy,” the statement read

Recall that Laaro reportedly died on Friday, August 11, 2023 after a brief illness.

Ambassador Kayode Laaro was born in Ilorin, Kwara State, Nigeria on November 30, 1959.

Kayode Laaro possessed a B.A degree in Geography from Ahmadu Bello University (1980) and a Masters’ degree in Economic Development and Planning from the United Nations Institute for Economic Development, Dakar, Senegal (1997).

His training at IDEP gave him an insight into the developmental challenges of African countries and how these challenges can be addressed.

During his career in the Nigerian Foreign Service spanning 35 years from December 1983 – December 2018, Laro served in various capacities at home and abroad giving him great exposure to global affairs.

He acquired skills in multilateral diplomacy through deployments to the Nigerian missions to the United Nations in New York and Geneva. These deployments enhanced his skills as a negotiator and gave him insights into how diplomacy can be used to promote peace, security and development across the world.

Laaro was a Fellow of the Defence College, having attended Course 17 (2008/2009) at the highest tri-service military training institution in Nigeria, the National Defence College Nigeria.

Laaro’s interests included golf, chess, environmental issues, development, security and global affairs.

After retirement from the Foreign Service, Laaro joined an Abuja-based think-tank Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy and Development as a Senior Analyst.

Laaro was appointed by former president Muhammadu Buhari as an Ambassador in July 2020 and assigned to France.

He arrived in France on May 15, 2021 to assume duty as the Nigerian Ambassador to France, with concurrent accreditation to Monaco.

As the Ambassador to France, his main role was to represent Nigeria’s interests in France and maintain diplomatic relations between the two countries.

He was responsible for promoting trade, investment, and cultural exchange between Nigeria and France.