Goodluck Jonathan Wins 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award

Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation. The award ceremony will take place on April 11, 2025, in Seoul, South Korea.

Jonathan becomes the first African leader to receive this prestigious award, following previous winners Ban Ki-moon, former UN Secretary-General, and Hun Sen, Prime Minister of Cambodia.

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Why Goodluck Jonathan Was Honoured

The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee recognized Jonathan for his commitment to peacebuilding, conflict resolution, and democracy promotion in Africa. His contributions include:

Leading mediation efforts across Africa
Promoting democratic governance and stability
Advocacy through his organizations:

Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF)
West African Elders Forum (WAEF)
International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP)

His efforts have played a key role in conflict resolution and peaceful transitions of power across the continent.

The Sunhak Peace Prize and Past Winners

The Sunhak Peace Prize is a biennial award established in 2015 to recognize individuals and organizations contributing to global peace and development in three key areas:

Sustainable Human Development, Conflict Resolution, Ecological Conservation

There are two categories of the award:

1. Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award

✔Given to outstanding global leaders
✔Past recipients: Ban Ki-moon (former UN Secretary-General), Hun Sen (Cambodian Prime Minister)

2. Sunhak Peace Prize

✔ Given to individuals or organizations contributing to world peace
✔ Past winners:

Macky Sall (Former Senegalese President)
Akinwumi Adesina (President, AfDB)
Dame Sarah Gilbert (Co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine)
GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance

Other 2025 Sunhak Peace Prize Laureates

Jonathan will receive his award alongside three other winners in the Sunhak Peace Prize category, announced by José Manuel Durão Barroso, Chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee.

The awardees are:

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 at the World Resources Institute

Founder’s Message on the Award

The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded by Hak Ja Han Moon, leader of an interreligious and international movement for peace.

She emphasized that:

“Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has identified and honored individuals who have dedicated themselves to addressing urgent global challenges based on its three core values: respect for human rights, reconciliation of conflicts, and ecological conservation.”

Conclusion

The 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award is a historic recognition for Goodluck Jonathan’s dedication to peace and democracy in Africa. As Nigeria’s first recipient of the award, his work continues to inspire efforts for stability and governance across the continent.

What are your thoughts on Goodluck Jonathan’s award? Share your views in the comments!