Former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been named the winner of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, making him the first African leader to receive this prestigious honor.
The award, presented by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation, recognizes Jonathan’s contributions to peacebuilding, democracy, and conflict resolution across Africa.
Jonathan joins a distinguished list of past recipients, including former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The award ceremony, the sixth in the series, will be held in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, 2025, where he and other laureates will be officially honored.
Recognition for Peace and Democracy Efforts
According to the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee, Jonathan is being recognized for his consistent efforts in mediation, democracy promotion, and peace advocacy.
Through his leadership roles in organizations such as the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP), he has worked extensively to resolve political conflicts and strengthen democratic institutions in Africa.
The Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded biennially to individuals and organizations committed to world peace and human development.
Jonathan’s category, the Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, is distinct from the main Sunhak Peace Prize, which has previously honored notable figures such as former Senegalese President Macky Sall, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Akinwumi Adesina, and Dame Sarah Catherine Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine.
Other Awardees in 2025
Jonathan will receive his award alongside three other distinguished individuals, recently announced by José Manuel Durão Barroso, Chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee and former President of the European Commission. These include:
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
Inspiring Global Change Through Peace Initiatives
The Sunhak Peace Prize was founded by Hak Ja Han Moon, who emphasized in her pre-event address that the lives of the laureates exemplify how peace can be achieved through meaningful action and cultural transformation.
“Over the past decade, the Sunhak Peace Prize has recognized individuals who have dedicated themselves to tackling urgent global challenges. Their work is rooted in three core values: respect for human rights, conflict reconciliation, and ecological conservation,” she stated.