Yakubu Gowon
Yakubu Gowon | |
|---|---|
| 3rd Head of State of Nigeria | |
| In office 1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975 | |
| Chief of Staff | J. E. A. Wey |
| Preceded by | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| Succeeded by | Murtala Mohammed |
| Chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity | |
| In office 27 May 1973 – 12 June 1974 | |
| Preceded by | Hassan II |
| Succeeded by | Siad Barre |
| Federal Commissioner of Defence | |
| In office 1966–1975 | |
| President | Himself |
| Preceded by | Inuwa Wada |
| Succeeded by | Illiya Bisalla |
| Federal Commissioner for External Affairs | |
| In office 1966–1967 | |
| Preceded by | Nuhu Bamalli |
| Succeeded by | Arikpo Okoi |
| Chief of Army Staff | |
| In office 16 January 1966 – 29 July 1966 | |
| Preceded by | Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi |
| Succeeded by | Joseph Akahan |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 19 October 1934 Kanke, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Kanke, Plateau, Nigeria) |
| Spouse | |
| Alma mater | |
| Occupation |
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| Nickname | "Jack" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | Nigeria |
| Branch/service | Nigerian Army |
| Years of service | 1954–1975 |
| Rank | General |
| Battles/wars | Congo Crisis Nigerian Civil War |
Yakubu Dan-Yumma "Jack" Gowon GCFR (born 19 October 1934) is a Nigerian former military officer and statesman who served as the head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975.
Gowon was Nigeria's leader during the Nigerian Civil War where he delivered the famous "no victor, no vanquished" speech at the war's end to promote healing and reconciliation. The Nigerian Civil War is listed as one of the deadliest in modern history, with some accusing Gowon of crimes against humanity and genocide. Gowon has maintained that he committed no wrongdoing during the war and that his leadership saved the country.
On June 7, 2025, at the fifth convention of the Christian Men’s Fellowship in Abuja, where he was honoured with the Life Time Integrity and Achievement Award, he described the period as the most difficult of his life and said that the war was never his choice.
An Anglican Christian from a minority Ngas ethnic group of Northern Nigeria, Gowon is a Nigerian nationalist, and a believer in the unity and oneness of Nigeria. His rise to power followed the July 1966 counter-coup and cemented military rule in Nigeria. Consequently, Gowon served for the longest continuous period as head of state of Nigeria, ruling for almost nine years until his overthrow in the coup d'état of 1975 by Brigadier Murtala Mohammed.