Former Nigerian President Honored for Promoting Peace Across Africa
Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been named the recipient of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, an esteemed global recognition for his contributions to peace and democracy. The award, presented by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation, will be conferred at a ceremony in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, 2025.
Jonathan becomes the first African leader to receive this prestigious honor, following in the footsteps of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee highlighted Jonathan’s unwavering dedication to mediation and democracy-building efforts across Africa. His leadership in organizations such as the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP) has played a pivotal role in fostering stability and reconciliation across the continent.
The Sunhak Peace Prize, established in 2015, is awarded biennially to individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to human rights, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation. The 2025 awards will honor Jonathan alongside three other distinguished laureates:
Patrick Awuah Jr. – Founder and President of Ashesi University, Ghana
Hugh Evans – Co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen
Wanjira Mathai – Regional Director for Africa, World Resources Institute
Announcing the winners, José Manuel Durão Barroso, Chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee and former President of the European Commission, praised their exceptional commitment to global peace and sustainable development.
Speaking ahead of the ceremony, Hak Ja Han Moon, founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize, emphasized the laureates’ impact on shaping a more peaceful world.
“Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has recognized individuals who have tackled pressing global challenges through human rights advocacy, conflict reconciliation, and environmental conservation,” she stated.
Past recipients of the award include former Senegalese President Macky Sall, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, and Dame Sarah Catherine Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
The upcoming 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony promises to be a landmark event, celebrating outstanding global efforts toward peace, stability, and sustainable development.
Comments