The youngest person to lead Nigeria, holding the office of Head of State, was Yakubu Gowon.
Yakubu Gowon: Nigeria's Youngest Head of State
General Yakubu Gowon holds the distinction of being the youngest individual to assume the highest office in Nigeria. He was only 31 years old when he took power.
- Age at Assumption: 31 years old
- Date of Assumption: July 1966
- Circumstances: Gowon assumed office following the assassination of the then-Head of State, Major General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, during the July 1966 counter-coup. This pivotal event marked a significant turning point in Nigeria's history, leading into a period of prolonged military rule.
While the term "President" in Nigeria is typically associated with democratically elected civilian leaders in the country's later republics, "Head of State" is the overarching title for the supreme leader, encompassing both civilian presidents and military rulers. Yakubu Gowon, as a military general, served as Head of the Federal Military Government and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. His tenure as Head of State from 1966 to 1975 was a critical period, marked by efforts to maintain Nigeria's unity during the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and subsequent post-war reconstruction.
For a comprehensive list of Nigeria's heads of state and their ages at assumption of office, you can refer to the List of Nigerian heads of state by age on Wikipedia.
