President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and former Minister of Defence, Lt. Gen. Theophilus Danjuma (rtd), are expected to headline the public presentation of the autobiography of former Head of State, Gen. Yakubu Gowon (rtd), scheduled for Tuesday, May 19, 2026, in Abuja.

The event will take place at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre and is expected to attract top government officials, military veterans, diplomats, and other prominent figures from across the country.

President Tinubu is billed to attend as Special Guest of Honour, while Gen. Danjuma will formally unveil the autobiography.

The 881-page publication, produced by Havilah Group, presents a personal account of Gen. Gowon’s life, leadership journey, and reflections on key moments in Nigeria’s history, including the 30-month civil war from 1967 to 1970.

The book also documents his early life and his emergence as Nigeria’s leader at a critical period in the nation’s development. Born in 1934, Gowon became Head of State on August 1, 1966, and led the country for nine years.

Following his tenure, he obtained a PhD in Political Science from the University of Warwick in 1984 and has since been involved in peacebuilding and national development initiatives.

His post-service engagements include the “Nigeria Prays” movement and advocacy in the fight against diseases such as guinea worm, HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria through the Yakubu Gowon Centre. He also serves as Nigeria’s National Goodwill Ambassador for the control of viral hepatitis.