Victoria Gowon

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]

Victoria Gowon CFR
First Lady of Nigeria
In role 19 April 1969 – 29 July 1975
Head of State	Yakubu Gowon
Preceded by	Victoria Aguiyi-Ironsi
Succeeded by	Ajoke Muhammed
Personal details
Born	Victoria Hansatu Zakari (1946-08-22) 22 August 1946 (age 78) Zaria, Northern Region, British Nigeria (now Zaria, Kaduna State, Nigeria)
Spouse	Yakubu Gowon ​ (m. 1969)​

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]