Victoria Gowon
CFR
First Lady of Nigeria
In role
19 April 1969 – 29 July 1975
Head of StateYakubu Gowon
Preceded byVictoria Aguiyi-Ironsi
Succeeded byAjoke Muhammed
Personal details
Born
Victoria Hansatu Zakari

(1946-08-22) 22 August 1946 (age 77)
Zaria, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria)
Spouse
​
(m. 1969)​

Victoria Hansatu Gowon (born 22 August 1946) is a Nigerian nurse and the third First Lady of Nigeria. She is married to General Yakubu Gowon who was Nigerian Head of State from 1966 to 1975.[1][2]

Biography

Victoria Hansatu Zakari was born on 22 August 1946 to Malam Walter Bala, a civil servant and Lydia Fati Zakari in Zaria.[3][4] She attended primary and secondary school in both Zaria and Kaduna. She completed her secondary education in 1964.[4] She attended school of Nursing at the University College Hospital, Ibadan and qualified as a registered nurse in July 1968.[5] She married Yakubu Gowon during the Nigerian Civil War on 19 April 1969 in a ceremony held at Cathedral Church of Christ, Lagos.[3][6]

She made public appearances because Yakubu Gowon combined his executive and ceremonial duties.[1]

Her style as first lady was described as simple as she was often dressed in traditional attire.[2][7]

References

  1. ^ a b Okon-Ekong, Nseobong (2010-10-02). "Nigeria: First Ladies - Colourful Brilliance, Gaudy Rays". Thisday. AllAfrica.com. Archived from the original on 2012-04-23. Retrieved 2012-07-26.
  2. ^ a b "First Ladies of style". Punch Newspapers. 2017-10-01. Retrieved 2021-07-31.
  3. ^ a b Obasi, Emeka (2017-10-07). "Of Flora, Victoria and Mariam". Vanguard News. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  4. ^ a b NewAfrican Life. IC Publications. 1990.
  5. ^ Admin (2020-11-20). "GOWON,(Dr) Victoria Hansatu". Biographical Legacy and Research Foundation. Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  6. ^ Oluleye, Kehinde (2019-11-08). "Famous, long lasting monogamous MARRIAGES". The Nation (Nigeria). Retrieved 2021-07-30.
  7. ^ "Nigeria@60: Life & style of First Ladies". Punch Newspapers. 2020-09-27. Retrieved 2021-07-31.


Honorary titles Preceded byVictoria Aguiyi-Ironsi First Lady of Nigeria 1 August 1966 – 29 July 1975 Succeeded byAjoke Muhammed
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