____was the first Nigerian Permanent Representative to the United Nations.

Analyze the question: It asks who was Nigeria's first Permanent Representative (Ambassador) to the United Nations. This is a recall question on Nigeria's foreign policy and international relations.

Explain the concept: Nigeria became independent on 1 October 1960 and joined the UN on 7 October 1960. A Permanent Representative is the country's chief diplomat at the UN headquarters in New York. The first person to hold this post for Nigeria was Chief Samuel Adebo, who served from 1962 to 1967. He later became a notable UN official, serving as Executive Director of UNITAR.

Check the options:

• A. Chief Samuel Adebo: Nigeria's first Permanent Representative to the UN. Correct.
• B. Professor Ibrahim Gambari: He served as Permanent Representative from 1990 to 1999. He was not the first, and he later became UN Under-Secretary-General and Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister.
• C. Alhaji Yusuf Maitama Sule: He led Nigeria's delegation to the UN as Nigeria's Permanent Representative (1979 to 1983) and was a prominent statesman. He was not the first.
• D. General Joseph Garba: He was Nigeria's Permanent Representative (1984 to 1989) and later President of the UN General Assembly (1989). He was not the first.

Note on a possible wrinkle: Some sources mention that Jaja Wachuku, Nigeria's first Minister of Foreign Affairs, led Nigeria's delegation when it was admitted to the UN in 1960. But he is not among the options, and Adebo is the one recognised as the first Permanent Representative.

Answer: A. Chief Samuel Adebo

Exam tip: Remember the order by era: Adebo (1960s) → Maitama Sule (late 1970s to 1980s) → Garba (late 1980s) → Gambari (1990s). "A" comes first, and he is also the first letter of the options, which makes him easy to recall as "A for Adebo, A for the first."