President Bola Tinubu and former Head of State, Yakubu Gowon. Photo credit: State House Abuja
Former Nigerian Head of State, Yakubu Gowon, is set to officially present his long-awaited autobiography at a high-profile event scheduled for May 19, 2026, in Abuja.
The public presentation is expected to attract leading political figures, military veterans, diplomats, and other distinguished guests from across the country.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will attend the ceremony as the special guest of honour, while former Minister of Defence, Theophilus Danjuma, will formally unveil the book.
The event will take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre.
Published by Havilah Group, the 881-page autobiography offers an in-depth account of Gowon’s personal life, military career, and years in leadership. It also revisits some of the most defining moments in Nigeria’s history, including the Nigerian civil war fought between 1967 and 1970.
The memoir further traces Gowon’s childhood, his rise within the military, and his emergence as Nigeria’s leader during one of the country’s most turbulent political periods.
Born in 1934, Gowon became Nigeria’s Head of State on August 1, 1966, serving for nine years as commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Following his exit from office, he pursued further studies and obtained a doctorate degree in political science from the University of Warwick in 1984.
Over the years, Gowon has remained active in peacebuilding, national unity campaigns, and humanitarian initiatives. His contributions include the “Nigeria Prays” movement as well as advocacy programmes targeting diseases such as HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, guinea worm, and viral hepatitis through the Yakubu Gowon Centre.
He currently serves as Nigeria’s national goodwill ambassador for the control of viral hepatitis.
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