1970 Gowon Speech: No Victor No Vanquished

Yakubu Gowon was Nigeria’s leader during one of its darkest times – the Nigerian Civil War/Biafran War (1967-1970). As a military general who became Head of State in 1966, Gowon led Nigeria through this devastating conflict. When the war ended in 1970, he made a famous speech declaring there were “no victors and no vanquished.” These words were meant to help heal a deeply wounded nation.

To further demonstrate his impartiality and desire for the oneness of Nigeria, Gowon adopted a newspaper interpretation of his name: Go On With One Nigeria (GOWON).

Born in northern Nigeria to a Christian family, Gowon rose to power during a military takeover and ruled Nigeria for nine years. While some praise his efforts to keep Nigeria united, others criticize his actions during the war, which claimed many lives. His historic “no victor, no vanquished” speech remains one of the most important moments in Nigerian history, though its impact continues to be debated today.