Chief Olusegun Mathew Okikiola Aremu Obasanjo, GCFR[3] born on 5 March 1937) is a former Nigerian Army general who was President of Nigeria from 1999 to 2007. A Nigerian of Yoruba descent, Obasanjo was a career soldier before serving twice as his nation's head of state. He served as a military ruler from 13 February 1976 to 1 October 1979, and as a democratically elected president from 29 May 1999 to 29 May 2007. From July 2004 to January 2006, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo also served as Chairperson of the African Union. Chief Olusegun is a member of the Africa Progress Panel (APP), a group of ten distinguished individuals who advocate at the highest levels for equitable and sustainable development in Africa. As a Panel Member he facilitates coalition building to leverage and broker knowledge, and convenes decision-makers to influence policy for lasting change in Africa. His current home is Abeokuta, the capital city of Ogun State, where he is a nobleman as the holder of the Chieftaincy titles of the Balogun of the Owu lingeage and the Ekerin Balogun of the Egba clan of Yorubaland