Nigeria is one of the biggest and most populated countries in Africa. She is also known as the giant of Africa because, amongst other African countries, Nigeria is more internationally recognized. Over the years, this country has been led by many presidents and military heads of state who, in one way or the other, contributed to the growth and development of the country. In fact, most of the past leaders of Nigeria laid foundation for some of the achievements of the country which is celebrated today.
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For this reason, it is important that to keep remembering them. This article therefore highlights the names of all the past Nigerian presidents from 1960 till Date. Coupled with that, a brief biography of the past presidents of Nigeria will be given. I enjoin you to read this content carefully so that you will be able to grasp everything contained in it.
Past Nigerian presidents since independence till date (1960 – 2020)
Below are the past Nigerian presidents from 1960 till date (2020):
- Azikiwe Nnamdi (1 October 1963 to 16 January 1966)
- General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966)
- General Yakubu Gowon (1 August 1966 to 29 July 1975)
- General Murtala Mohammed (29 July 1975 to 13 February 1976)
- General Obasanjo Olusegun (13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979)
- President Shehu Shagari (1 October 1979 to 31 December 1983)
- General Muhammadu Buhari (31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985)
- General Ibrahim Babangida (27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993)
- Ernest Shonekan (26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993)
- General Sani Abacha (17 November 1993 to 8 June 1998)
- General Abdulsalami Abubakar (8 June 1998 to 29 May 1999)
- Olusegun Obasanjo (29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007)
- Umaru Musa Yar Adua (29 May 2007 to 5 May 2010)
- Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (29 May 2010 to 29 May 2015)
- President Muhammadu Buhari (29 May 2015 to 29 may 2023)
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu ( current president)
Above is a list of the names of all the presidents of Nigeria since independence. For more information about these leaders, i recommend you keep reading as I disclose more about each of the names mentioned above.
1. Azikiwe Nnamdi (1 October 1963 to 16 January 1966)
In office: 1 October 1963 – 16 January 1966
Date of birth: 16th November, 1904
Education: Howard University, Lincoln University and University of Pennsylvania
Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was the first President of Nigeria from 1963 till 1966 (Preceded by Queen Elizabeth II and Succeeded by Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi). He was a well known stateman and one of the persons in the frontline fighting for the independence of Nigeria in 1960. For this reason, Nnamdi Azikiwe is generally known as the father of Nigerian Nationalism. Other persons who also played crucial role in the independence of Nigeria includes; Ahmadu Bello, Herbert Marculey, Awolowo etc.
It will surprise you to know that Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe is a typical Igbo man, though he was born at Zungeru in present-day Niger State. While he was growing up Nnamdi Azikiwe learned to socialize with everyone. In fact, he new how to speak Hausa very well. This contributed to his popularity and firm character as a child.
Before enrolling into politics, Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe was well educated. He attended Storer College in the US, where he was known as Ben Azikiwe. He also attended Howard University, Lincoln University, and even the prestigious University of Pennsylvania. After his education, Azikiwe returned to Nigeria and became a core member of the National Council of Nigeria and the Cameroons (One of the political parties in Nigeria during the first republic).
On the 11th of May, 1996 Dr Nnamdi Azikiwe died at the age of 91 in Enugu state where he was also buried.
2. General Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi (16 January 1966 to 29 July 1966)
Johnson Thomas Umunnakwe Aguiyi-Ironsi was the first Military Head of State in Nigeria. He was born in Abia State, Nigeria but he grew up with his sister at Kano before joining the Nigerian Regimen at the age of 18. Aguiyi-Ironsi is popularly known as the leader that brought unitary system of government into Nigeria. However, that system of government did not last for long.
Due to the fact that most northerns didn’t like his administration, he was assassinated on the 29th of July, 1966. This brought in the government of Yakubu Gowon in 1966.
3. General Yakubu Gowon (1 August 1966 to 29 July 1975)
Another unforgettable leader of Nigeria is General Yakubu Gowon. He was Nigeria’s youngest military chief of staff at the age of 31. Yakubu (also called Jack) is known for leading Nigeria during the Civil War.
History has it that Gowon was a strong, smart and educated leader. He as born in Plateau State as the fifth of eleven children of his parents. While he was growing up, he was the best amongst his peers when it comes to athlete. In 1966, Gowon was chosen to become head of state for Nigeria. His government created the first 12 states in the history of Nigeria.
4. General Murtala Mohammed (29 July 1975 to 13 February 1976)
General Murtala Mohammed didn’t stay long in power because he was assassinated. He became the 4th Head of State of Nigeria in 1975 and was killed in 1976 by some members of Dimka’s abortive coup.
Immediately after his death, Obasanjo Olusegun took over power and completed his plan to hand over power to a civilian government. Aside that, Obasanjo also carried out many reforms in the country in fulfillment of General Murtala Mohammed’s goal for the country.
5. General Obasanjo Olusegun (13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979)
General Obasanjo Olusegun is one of the past governor generals of Nigeria that really contributed to the growth and development of the country. He was also called Baba Africa and was active during the Congo Crisis and the Nigerian Civil War.
Obasanjo joined the Nigerian Army in 1958. His leadership is seen as one of the most successful in the history of Nigeria. In fact, majority of the achievements of the military in Nigeria were under his government.
6. President Shehu Shagari (1 October 1979 to 31 December 1983)
In office: October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983
Birth: February 25, 1925
Education: Teachers Training College, in Zaria, Kaduna, Nigeria
Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari was the first elected president of the federal republic of Nigeria. After the power tussle and military coup that followed Azikiwe’s regime, Shehu Usman Aliyu Shagari emerged as the first democratic elected president of the country. His vice president was Alex Ekwueme.
Research shows that Shehu Usman Shagari joined politics in 1951. He was one of the respected personalities in NPN (National Party of Nigeria). Even before he was elected president of Nigeria, he was actively participating in the development of Nigeria.
For instance, between 1959 – 1960 he did great things as the minister of economic development in the country. It will surprise you to know that Shagari was a one time governor for the World Bank and a member of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) committee of twenty.
7. General Muhammadu Buhari (31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985)
Muhammadu Buhari is the current president of Nigeria and a one time military head of state in Nigeria (1983 to 1985). He was born in 1942 into a Fulani family. At his young age (19), Buhari was already a student at the Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC).
At 20 years he was given the title of second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta. Buhari was a crime fighter during his government. He hated corruption and tried everything possible to curb the problem.
8. General Ibrahim Babangida (27 August 1985 to 26 August 1993)
General Ibrahim Babangida is also known as IBB. He was an exceptional leader of Nigeria and one of the best military president Nigeria has had. Babangida removed Muhammadu Buhari during his military government and ruled until 1993 when he resigned.
It will surprise you to know that Ibrahim Babangida was born on 17 August 1941. He grew up with his parents until he officially joined the Nigerian Army on 10 December 1962. During military rule in Nigeria, Babangida was seen as the key plotter of military coups.
9. Ernest Shonekan (26 August 1993 to 17 November 1993)
In office: 26 August 1993 – 17 November 1993
Birth: 9 May 1936 (age 83)
Education: University of London
It was Babangida’s military regime that gave birth to this government. As a result of the pressure mounted on him to hand over power to a civilian government, Babangida handed over power to another president.
Apparently, Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan was the first lawyer to become the president of Nigeria. Before he was appointed into power, Shonekan was the chief executive of the United African Company of Nigeria PLC, a large Nigerian conglomerate.
Coupled with Chief Ernest Adegunle Oladeinde Shonekan regime was Moshood Abiola as the vice president of the country. They two worked together until the military intervened again.
10. General Sani Abacha (17 November 1993 to 8 June 1998)
Abacha is one of the well known dictators in the history of Nigeria. He served as the military head of state of the country from 1993 till 1998 when he was kill of heart attack. During the Civil War, Abacha was the platoon and battalion Commander. His government was tyrannic in nature.
Abacha’s leadership was unlike every other past leader of Nigeria. His policies and decisions were heavily criticized in Nigeria and other parts of the world. That does not also mean that there was no positive achievements during his leadership.
11. General Abdulsalami Abubakar (8 June 1998 to 29 May 1999)
General Abdulsalami Abubakar is another significant leader in the history of Nigeria. He was very active in the Nigerian Civil War and the 1978 South Lebanon conflict. General Abubakar was born in 1942 by Abubakar Jibrin, a well known personality in Minna, Niger State, Nigeria.
As a young man, General Abubakar schooled in Nigeria. He served in the Nigerian Air Force and Army in 1963–1966 and 1966–1999 respectively. Abubakar also served as the de facto President of Nigeria from 1998 to 1999. He succeeded Sani Abacha after his death.
12. Olusegun Obasanjo (29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007)
In office: 29 May 1999 – 29 May 2007
Birth: 5 March 1937
Education: Mons Cadet School, Aldershot, England; Royal College of Military Engineers.
Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo is a well known political figure in Nigeria even till today. He is popularly called Baba Africa. Obasanjo became the president of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. His vice at that time was Shehu Musa Yar’Adua.
It will surprise you to know that before and during his regime as president, he was and adent member of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). According to research, President Obasanjo spent most of his first term travelling abroad. He was able to win at least some Western support for strengthening Nigeria’s nascent democracy.
13. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua (29 May 2007 to 5 May 2010)
In office: 29 May 2007 – 5 May 2010
Birth: 16 August 1951
Education: Ahmadu Bello University
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua took over power from Obasanjo after he was declared the winner of the controversial Nigerian presidential election held on 21 April, 2007. He was the former governor of Kastina state before becoming the president of the country. It will surprise you to know that Yar’Adua took over from this father who was also an ardent politician. In fact, he (his father) was the National Vice chairman of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN).
Even before becoming the president of the federal republic of Nigeria, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua has been contributing to the development and growth of the country. He was a member of the 1988 Constituent Assembly.
Sadly, Umaru Musa Yar’Adua died as a result of a sickness which he traveled outside the country to treat. On returning back to the country (24 February,2010), his vice president, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan took over power as the president of the country.
14. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (29 May 2010 to 29 May 2015)
In office: 5 May 2010 – 29 May 2015
Birth: 20 November 1957
Education: University of Port Harcourt
Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is a one time governor of Bayelsa state and president of the federal republic of Nigeria. He was the vice president during Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s regime. After the death of Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, ex-president Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan promised to continue implementing the seven-point agenda policy framework of the former president.
During his regime, the country had one of the best leaders in the world. However, due to the incessant security problem, some citizens criticized his government for not being able to handle the problem.
In 2015, president Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan lost the 2015 presidential election to Muhammadu Buhari. He pacificly handed over power to the newly elected president and said “Nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian.” Currently, Goodluck Jonathan is the chairperson of the newly inaugurated International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP). He is also known as the ambassador of peace.
15. President Muhammadu Buhari (29 may 2015 to 29 may 2023)
In office: 29 May 2015 to 29 May 2023
Birth: 17 December 1942
Education: Nigerian Military Training College, Mons Officer Cadet School
served as the president of Nigeria from 2015 to 2023. A retired Nigerian army major general, he served as the country’s military head of state from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d’état. The term Buharism is ascribed to the authoritarian policies of his military regime.
Buhari ran for president of Nigeria on the platform and support of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in 2003 and 2007, and on the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) platform in 2011. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress party for the 2015 general election. Buhari won the election, defeating incumbent President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. This was the first time in the history of Nigeria that an incumbent president lost a general election. He was sworn in on 29 May 2015. In February 2019, Buhari was re-elected, defeating his closest rival, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, by over 3 million votes
Muhammadu Buhari hails from Daura, Katsina State. According to research, he is from a fulani family and his father died when he was still 4 years old. His government is hell bent on eliminating corruption in the country.
16. Bola Ahmed Tinubu (current president)
In Office: 29 May 2023 till date
Birth: 29 march 1952
Education : Richard J. Daley College
Tinubu constitutionally began his presidency on 29 May 2023. He was sworn in as President of Nigeria by the Chief Justice of Nigeria Olukayode Ariwoola at 10:41 AM (WAT) at an inauguration ceremony held in Eagle Square in Abuja. His government having cleared the legal hurdles of the opposition following the March election is generally accepted unopposed and has international legitimacy. Several heads of state and government attended the swearing-in ceremony. Tinubu was conferred with the highest national honour of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic by his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, and his Vice President Kashim Shettima with the second highest honor of the Grand Commander of the Order of the Niger on 25 May 2023.
