Nigeria has had a rich history of leadership, from colonial times to the present day. Since 1914, the country has seen various leaders with different visions, each shaping its political landscape in unique ways. Do you know how many presidents Nigeria has had since independence? From military rulers to democratically elected presidents, Nigeria’s leadership journey has been dynamic and fascinating.
Ready to dive into the history of Nigeria’s past leaders? Let’s go!
List of Nigeria’s Past Leaders (1914 – 2024)
Here are the leaders who have governed Nigeria, from its early days as a colony to the present:
- Lord Frederick Lugard – 1st Governor-General (1914 – 1919)
- Sir Hugh Clifford – 2nd Governor-General (1914 – 1925)
- Sir Graham Thompson – 3rd Governor-General (1925 – 1931)
- Sir Donald Cameron – 4th Governor-General (1931 – 1935)
- Sir Bernard Bourdillon – 5th Governor-General (1935 – 1943)
- Sir Arthur Richards – 6th Governor-General (1943 – 1948)
- Sir John Macpherson – 7th Governor-General (1948 – 1954)
- Sir James Robertson – 8th Governor-General (1954 – 1960)
- Rt Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe – President and Head of State (1960 – 1966)
- Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – Prime Minister and Head of Government (1960 – 1966)
- Major General J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi – Head of State (January 15, 1966 – July 29, 1966)
- General Yakubu Gowon – Head of State (July 29, 1966 – July 29, 1975)
- General Murtala Ramat Mohammed – Head of State (July 29, 1966 – February 13, 1976)
- General Olusegun Obasanjo – Head of State (February 13, 1976 – October 1, 1979)
- Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari – President (October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983)
- Major General Muhammadu Buhari – Head of State (December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985)
- General Ibrahim B. Babangida – President (August 27, 1985 – August 25, 1993)
- Chief Ernest Shonekan – Head of State (August 25, 1993 – November 17, 1993)
- General Sanni Abacha – Head of State (November 17, 1993 – June 8, 1998)
- General Abdulsalami Abubakar – Head of State (June 8, 1998 – May 29, 1999)
- Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – President (May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007)
- Umaru Musa Yar’Adua – President (May 29, 2007 – May 5, 2010)
- Goodluck Jonathan – President (February 9, 2010 – May 29, 2015; Acting from May 5, 2010)
- Muhammadu Buhari – President (May 29, 2015 – May 29, 2023)
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu – President (May 29, 2023 – Till date)
Let’s look at them separately.
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1. Lord Frederick Lugard – 1st Governor-General (1914 – 1919)
Lord Lugard was the first Governor-General of Nigeria. Born in Madras, India, and raised in England, Lugard was a soldier, mercenary, and colonial administrator. He is most remembered for the 1914 amalgamation of the Northern and Southern Protectorates, a move that laid the foundation for Nigeria as a single entity.
2. Sir Hugh Clifford – 2nd Governor-General (1914 – 1925)
Sir Hugh Clifford served as the second Governor-General of Nigeria from 1914 to 1925. He is known for the Clifford Constitution of 1922, which introduced the elective principle in Africa. Though he initially intended to follow his father’s military path, Clifford ultimately joined the civil service.
3. Sir Graham Thompson – 3rd Governor-General (1925 – 1931)
Sir Graham Thompson was the third Governor-General of Nigeria. His leadership is marked by the imposition of taxes, which led to the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929. Thompson, a British civil servant, also served in the Admiralty.
4. Sir Donald Cameron – 4th Governor-General (1931 – 1935)
Sir Donald Cameron, the fourth Governor-General of Nigeria, also held significant administrative roles in Tanganyika. Interestingly, Cameron had no university education, yet his leadership left a lasting impression on Nigeria.
5. Sir Bernard Bourdillon – 5th Governor-General (1935 – 1943)
Sir Bernard Bourdillon divided Nigeria into Western, Eastern, and Northern provinces, a structure that remains significant in Nigeria’s political organization. He also administered Uganda before taking up his role in Nigeria.
6. Sir Arthur Richards – 6th Governor-General (1943 – 1948)
Sir Arthur Richards is known for integrating Northern and Southern Nigeria under a single legislature. His influence extended beyond Nigeria, as he also served in Gambia, Fiji, Jamaica, and North Borneo.
7. Sir John Macpherson – 7th Governor-General (1948 – 1954)
Sir John Macpherson’s leadership is notable for the Macpherson Constitution, which involved widespread consultations with Nigerians. His administrative approach fostered a greater sense of inclusion in the political process.
8. Sir James Robertson – 8th Governor-General (1954 – 1960)
James Robertson was Nigeria’s last colonial Governor-General, representing Queen Elizabeth. Well-educated, Robertson played a vital role in Nigeria’s journey toward independence, with his term culminating in 1960.
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9. Rt Hon Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe – President and Head of State (1960 – 1966)
Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe became Nigeria’s first President in 1960, following the country’s independence. A highly educated man, Azikiwe is considered the father of Nigerian nationalism and was instrumental in the push for independence.
10. Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa – Prime Minister and Head of Government (1960 – 1966)
Alhaji (Sir) Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was Nigeria’s first Prime Minister and Head of Government from 1960 to 1966. Educated at Barewa College and University College London, he initially served as Minister of Works and later as Minister of Transport before becoming the Prime Minister. He is remembered as one of the key figures behind Nigeria’s independence.
11. Major General J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi – Head of State (January 15, 1966 – July 29, 1966)
Major General J.T.U Aguiyi Ironsi was Nigeria’s first military leader and Head of State from January 15, 1966, to July 29, 1966. He attended primary school in Umuahia and secondary school in Kano. At 18, he joined the Nigerian Army, despite family objections. Internationally recognized, he was awarded a Gallantry medal by Austria for his role in rescuing an Austrian ambulance unit detained in Congo in 1960.
12. General Yakubu Gowon – Head of State (July 29, 1966 – July 29, 1975)
General Yakubu Gowon was Nigeria’s Head of State during the Civil War, serving from July 29, 1966, to July 29, 1975. He was born in Plateau State and was the youngest military chief of staff when he assumed leadership. Gowon is remembered for leading the country during a critical and violent period in its history.
13. General Murtala Ramat Mohammed – Head of State (July 29, 1966 – February 13, 1976)
General Murtala Ramat Mohammed ruled from July 29, 1966, until his assassination on February 13, 1976. Born into a Fulani ruling class family in Kano, he studied at Cikin Gida Secondary School before attending the Royal Military Academy in Sandhurst. He joined the Nigerian Army in 1958.
14. General Olusegun Obasanjo – Head of State (February 13, 1976 – October 1, 1979)
General Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s Head of State from February 13, 1976, to October 1, 1979, was born in the village of Ibogun-Olaogun and educated in Abeokuta. He is widely regarded as one of Nigeria’s most influential leaders, known for his role in transitioning the country to civilian rule.
15. Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari – President (October 1, 1979 – December 31, 1983)
Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Usman Shagari was Nigeria’s first democratically elected president, serving from October 1, 1979, to December 31, 1983. Raised in a polygamous family, Shagari was educated by his uncle after his father’s death. He initially worked as a teacher before entering politics in 1951. Shagari passed away on December 28, 2018, at the age of 93.
16. Major General Muhammadu Buhari – Head of State (December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985)
Major General Muhammadu Buhari became Head of State after a coup, ruling from December 31, 1983, to August 27, 1985. Buhari joined the Nigerian Army at 19 and played a significant role during the Civil War. In later years, he became a strong advocate for democracy.
17. General Ibrahim B. Babangida – President (August 27, 1985 – August 25, 1993)
General Ibrahim B. Babangida, often referred to as IBB, was born in Minna, Niger State, on August 17, 1941. He became Nigeria’s President on August 27, 1985, and served until August 25, 1993. Babangida’s regime was known for initiating significant developments in Nigeria.
18. Chief Ernest Shonekan – Head of State (August 25, 1993 – November 17, 1993)
Chief Ernest Shonekan briefly served as Nigeria’s Head of State from August 25, 1993, to November 17, 1993. A lawyer and businessman, Shonekan was also Chairman of the United Africa Company of Nigeria. He was married to Margaret O. Shonekan, a civil servant.
19. General Sani Abacha – Head of State (November 17, 1993 – June 8, 1998)
General Sani Abacha was Nigeria’s 10th Military Head of State, serving from November 17, 1993, until his death on June 8, 1998. Born in Kano, Abacha was the first Nigerian soldier to achieve the rank of a full military general without skipping any ranks.
20. Gen. A.A Abubakar – Head of State (June 8, 1998 – May 29, 1999)
Abdulsalami Abubakar succeeded Sani Abacha and served as Nigeria’s Head of State from June 8, 1998, to May 29, 1999. Abubakar was educated at Kaduna Technical College and served in both the Nigerian Air Force and Nigerian Army. He was awarded the Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR).
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21. Chief Olusegun Obasanjo – President (May 29, 1999 – May 29, 2007)
This marked the second time Chief Olusegun Obasanjo became a leader of Nigeria, but this time as an elected president. He served from May 29, 1999, to May 29, 2007. Obasanjo is known as a Nigerian nationalist who believed in the unity of the country rather than ethnic divisions. As the 12th president, he initiated significant developments, such as the Niger Delta Development Commission and the Universal Basic Education Program. Many consider him one of Nigeria’s most influential presidents.
22. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua – President (May 29, 2007 – May 5, 2010)
Umaru Musa Yar’Adua succeeded Obasanjo and served as president from May 29, 2007, until his death on May 5, 2010. Born in Katsina in 1953, he was educated at Barewa College and Ahmadu Bello University. Yar’Adua had previously served as Governor of Katsina from 1999 to 2007 and is regarded as one of Nigeria’s best leaders due to his focus on transparency and rule of law during his short presidency.
23. Goodluck Jonathan – President (February 9, 2010 – May 29, 2015)
Goodluck Jonathan became president after Umaru Musa Yar’Adua’s death, having served as his vice president. He was in power from February 9, 2010, to May 29, 2015, and also briefly acted as president during Yar’Adua’s illness. Jonathan, a former deputy governor of Bayelsa, is known for his efforts to promote peace in the country and continued to play an international role after his presidency as the chairperson of the International Summit Council for Peace.
24. Muhammadu Buhari – President (May 29, 2015 – May 29, 2023)
Muhammadu Buhari, who had previously led Nigeria as a military head of state, became the elected president on May 29, 2015. Before winning the 2015 election, Buhari ran unsuccessfully in the 2003, 2007, and 2011 elections. He was reelected in 2019, defeating Atiku Abubakar. His presidency was marked by efforts to combat corruption, improve security, and strengthen the economy.
25. Bola Ahmed Adekunle Tinubu – President (May 29, 2023 – Till date)
Bola Ahmed Tinubu, former Governor of Lagos State, became Nigeria’s president on May 29, 2023, following a highly contested election. Though there were controversies and court challenges surrounding the 2023 election results, Tinubu emerged as the victor. His presidency is expected to span four years, with the possibility of a second term if reelected.
Wrapping up
The journey of Nigerian leadership from 1914 to 2024 shows that significant progress was achieved even before the country’s independence. Various leaders have contributed to the development and success of the nation, each leaving behind a unique legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Who ruled Nigeria from 1914 to 1960?
Nigeria was under British rule until its independence in 1960.
Who was the head of the Nigerian government in 1914?
Sir Frederick Lugard was the head of the Nigerian government in 1914.
How many presidents have ruled Nigeria?
Nigeria has had 16 presidents, with Bola Tinubu as the current and 16th president.
Who is the youngest president of Nigeria?
Yakubu Gowon remains Nigeria’s youngest president, assuming office at the age of 31 in 1966.
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