# Yakubu Gowon

_Nigerian politician and Military general_

Canonical: https://diginpl.com/people/yakubu-gowon
Last updated: 2026-11-10

> Yakubu Dan'juma "Jack" Gowon is a Nigerian general and statesman who served as the military head of state of Nigeria from 1966 to 1975.

## Quick facts

- **Born:** 19 October 1934 ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P569))
- **Place of birth:** Kanke ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P19))
- **Citizenship:** Nigeria ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P27))
- **Occupation:** politician; military personnel; human rights defender; writer ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P106))
- **Political party:** military dictatorship ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P102))
- **Education:** Royal Military Academy Sandhurst; Staff College, Camberley; University of Warwick; Barewa College ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P69))
- **Spouse:** Victoria Gowon ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P26))
- **Positions held:** Chairperson of ECOWAS (28 May 1975 – 29 July 1975); chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (27 May 1973 – 12 June 1974); President of Nigeria (1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975); Chief of Army Staff (1966–1966); Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria (1966–1967) ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P39))
- **Awards:** National Order of Niger; Order of the Federal Republic ([Wikidata](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695#P166))

## Questions

**When was Yakubu Gowon born?**  
Yakubu Gowon was born on 19 October 1934 in Kanke.

**What positions has Yakubu Gowon held?**  
Positions held by Yakubu Gowon include: Chairperson of ECOWAS (1975–1975); chairperson of the Organisation of African Unity (1973–1974); President of Nigeria (1966–1975); Chief of Army Staff (1966–1966); Minister of Foreign Affairs of Nigeria (1966–1967).

**Where did Yakubu Gowon study?**  
Yakubu Gowon was educated at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Staff College, Camberley, University of Warwick, Barewa College.

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## Sources

- [Wikipedia (English): Yakubu Gowon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yakubu_Gowon) — [CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
- [Wikidata item Q354695](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q354695) — [CC0 1.0](https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/)
- [Image: Yakubu Gowon (cropped).jpg by User:Rkasesela per \[1\] (CC BY-SA 3.0)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Yakubu_Gowon_(cropped).jpg)

## Licence and attribution

Text from the Wikipedia article Yakubu Gowon, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. This page's text is shared under the same licence. Facts from Wikidata (CC0). Image: Yakubu Gowon (cropped).jpg — User:Rkasesela per [1], CC BY-SA 3.0.

## Cite this page

"Yakubu Gowon". DigiNepal. Last updated 10 November 2026. https://diginpl.com/people/yakubu-gowon. Retrieved 11 November 2026.