Presidents · Head-to-head
Olusegun Obasanjo vs Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
No — based on their recorded years, Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937) lived before Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
Olusegun Obasanjo
Olusegun Obasanjo is a Nigerian statesman who served as Nigeria's military head of state from 1976 to 1979 and later as its democratically elected president from 1999 to 2007.
Key achievements
- Became Nigeria's military head of state in 1976, overseeing a transition to civilian rule in 1979.
- Voluntarily handed power to an elected civilian government in 1979, a rare move at the time.
- Was elected president of Nigeria in 1999, marking the end of years of military rule.
- Served two terms as president until 2007, focused on economic and anti-corruption reforms.
Fast fact
Obasanjo is one of the few African leaders to have governed his country both as a military ruler and later as a democratically elected civilian president, separated by roughly two decades.
Full profile of Olusegun Obasanjo →Ellen Johnson Sirleaf
Ellen Johnson Sirleaf served as President of Liberia from 2006 to 2018, becoming the first elected female head of state in Africa, and shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 for her work toward peace and women's rights.
Key achievements
- Became the first elected female head of state in Africa upon taking office in 2006.
- Led Liberia's recovery efforts in the aftermath of the Second Liberian Civil War.
- Worked closely with peace activist Leymah Gbowee to promote women's inclusion in governance.
- Shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 with Leymah Gbowee and Tawakkol Karman.
Fast fact
Sirleaf's 2005 election made her the first woman ever elected as a head of state in Africa, and she went on to lead Liberia's recovery efforts following years of devastating civil war.
Full profile of Ellen Johnson Sirleaf →Who lived first, Olusegun Obasanjo or Ellen Johnson Sirleaf?
Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937) lived first, before Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938), based on their recorded years.
Were Olusegun Obasanjo and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf contemporaries?
No — based on their recorded years, Olusegun Obasanjo (born 1937) lived before Ellen Johnson Sirleaf (born 1938), and their lifetimes did not overlap.
What do Olusegun Obasanjo and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf have in common?
Both Olusegun Obasanjo and Ellen Johnson Sirleaf are grouped among our Presidents figures and lived during the Modern Era.