In his thought-provoking talk, "Mentoring for National Development," Prof. Ibrahim Abiola Gambari, former Chief of Staff to the President of Nigeria, emphasized the importance of self-advocacy and mentorship in driving national progress. He stressed that Africans must take ownership of their narrative, stating, "If we as Africans don't blow our trumpet, we will always continue to be down and never get up.Prof. Gambari also highlighted the significance of embracing the past through mentorship to reclaim the future. With his characteristic wisdom, he noted, "You can't reclaim the future without embracing the past through mentorship." His talk served as a call to action for leaders to invest in mentorship and self-advocacy, empowering the next generation to drive national development and progress. Ibrahim Agboola Gambari is a renowned scholar, diplomat, and global leader in international relations and conflict resolution. He earned his BSc from the London School of Economics in 1968, and his MA and PhD in Political Science from Columbia University. He has held key academic roles at Kwara State University, Bayero University, Crescent University, and Philomath University. A former Minister of External Affairs (1984–1985) and Nigeria’s longest-serving UN Ambassador (1990–1999), he later served as Chief of Staff to President Muhammadu Buhari (2020–2023). At the UN, he was Under-Secretary-General, Special Adviser on Africa, Head of the UN-AU Mission in Darfur, and more. He holds honorary doctorates from top institutions and was awarded CFR (Nigeria) and the Order of OR Tambo (South Africa). Founder of the Savannah Centre for Diplomacy, Democracy & Development, Professor Gambari is a respected author and voice in global peace, governance, and development. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx