RismadarVoice Reporters
May 12, 2026
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Defence Minister, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), will headline the public presentation of former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon’s autobiography on Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Abuja.
The high-profile event is scheduled to take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and is expected to attract top government officials, serving and retired military officers, diplomats, and other prominent figures.
President Tinubu will serve as the Special Guest of Honour, while Gen. Danjuma is billed to formally unveil the book.
The 881-page autobiography, published by Havilah Group, offers a detailed account of Gowon’s life, military career, and leadership years, including his role during the Nigerian Civil War between 1967 and 1970.
It also reflects on his emergence as Nigeria’s Head of State in 1966 at the age of 32 and his nine-year tenure as the country’s leader.
Born in 1934, Gowon ruled Nigeria from 1966 to 1975 before leaving office, after which he pursued further academic studies, earning a PhD in Political Science from the University of Warwick in 1984.
Since then, he has remained active in national and humanitarian causes, including peace advocacy through the “Nigeria Prays” initiative and public health campaigns targeting diseases such as guinea worm, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria via the Yakubu Gowon Centre.
He also serves as Nigeria’s National Goodwill Ambassador for viral hepatitis control.
The Abuja launch is expected to be one of the most significant literary and historical gatherings of the year, bringing together key figures from Nigeria’s political and military establishment.
