March 25, 2025 – Seoul, South Korea.
Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has been announced as the winner of the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award. The Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation presents this prestigious award to individuals and organizations that have made tremendous contributions towards world peace and human development. The award is set to be conferred in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, 2025.
Jonathan’s prize is a landmark since he is the first African leader to be honored with the Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, following former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, who had both won the prize in previous awards.
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A Leader of Peace and Democracy
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee recognized Jonathan’s relentless efforts at fostering peace in Africa, particularly through his role in various influential organizations. These include the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), the West African Elders Forum (WAEF), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP). Jonathan’s leadership of these organizations has been invaluable in consolidating democratic values and ending wars in West Africa, an achievement that has attracted widespread accolades to him.
Jonathan’s mediation work and pro-democracy activism have positioned him at the forefront of efforts to enthrone peace and stability on the African continent. As a past president of Africa’s most populous country, Jonathan’s post-retirement activities continue to influence the political and social landscape of the continent.
The Legacy of the Sunhak Peace Prize
Established in 2015, the Sunhak Peace Prize is awarded biennially to individuals and organizations whose efforts have had a profound impact in one of three focal areas: sustainable human development, conflict resolution, or ecological conservation. The award is presented in two categories: the Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, for outstanding contributions by individuals, and the Sunhak Peace Prize, for organizations or leaders for a specific achievement.
Past laureates of the Sunhak Peace Prize, the category for individuals who achieve remarkable accomplishments in one of the major areas, include former Senegalese President Macky Sall, African Development Bank President Akinwumi Adesina, Dame Sarah Catherine Gilbert (co-creator of the Oxford-AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
Jonathan’s being awarded the Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award puts him in a distinguished company of global leaders who have been honored for their commitment to peace. His acknowledgement highlights the continuing efforts to foster democratic principles, conflict resolution, and sustainable development on the African continent.
International Personalities to Attend Award Ceremony with Jonathan
The 2025 Seoul award ceremony will also honor three other model citizens in the Sunhak Peace Prize category. They include Patrick Awuah Jr., founder and president of Ashesi University in Ghana; Hugh Evans, co-founder and CEO of Global Citizen; and Wanjira Mathai, regional director for Africa at the World Resources Institute.
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These awardees have been recognized for their groundbreaking work in education, global advocacy, and environmental sustainability. Patrick Awuah Jr. is acknowledged for his transformative leadership in higher education, particularly in Africa. Hugh Evans is being recognized for his work with Global Citizen, an organization dedicated to addressing the world’s most pressing issues, including extreme poverty. Wanjira Mathai’s award highlights her commitment to sustainable development and environmental preservation, particularly in Africa.
The awardees’ diversity underscores the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation’s dedication to recognizing individuals who address global issues from all fields of endeavor and from around the world.
Hak Ja Han Moon’s Reflection on the Awardees
Sunhak Peace Prize founder Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon commended the 2025 laureates, stating that their combined efforts are an inspiring model of realizing peace through practical actions. The following is what Dr. Moon had to say in her pre-event address, “The laureates’ lives testify that peace can be achieved through cultural transformation and active engagement in resolving global issues.”.
She continued to point out that the Sunhak Peace Prize, over the past decade, has been committed to finding individuals who have achieved outstanding accomplishment in line with the three basic values of the prize, which include respect for human rights, reconciliation of conflicts, and conservation of the environment.
Why the Sunhak Peace Prize Matters
The Sunhak Peace Prize plays a crucial role in recognizing those who have made tangible contributions toward world peace and development. The biennial award brings global attention to some of the most critical challenges the world is facing, such as conflict resolution, human rights, and environmental sustainability. By honoring such individuals and institutions, the Sunhak Peace Prize aims to inspire others to emulate them in working toward solutions to the world’s most critical issues.
The upcoming award ceremony in Seoul is set to be a significant event, not only for Jonathan, but for the global community in general. It highlights the increasing relevance of cross-border collaboration in addressing global challenges. For Jonathan, the award is the global acknowledgment of his tireless work at advancing peace and democracy in Africa.
Jonathan’s Enduring Legacy in Africa
Jonathan’s recognition by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation also indicates the enduring impact of his leadership in Nigeria and the world. His presidency (2010–2015) was marked by efforts to entrench democratic values and peaceful changes of government. His peaceful acceptance of electoral defeat in the 2015 elections, despite challenges, earned him respect both nationally and internationally.
Jonathan has remained deeply involved in various peace-building efforts after leaving office. He has persisted in advocating for peace and sustainable development in Africa through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation. His efforts have been focused on conflict resolution, particularly in the West African sub-region, where he has mediated several political crises.
Looking Ahead: A Call to Action
The 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Prize is not just an appreciation of Jonathan’s service in the past but also a clarion call to the international community to continue working towards peace, democracy, and sustainable development. Jonathan’s legacy is a stark reminder that the world still needs people-centered leadership, a leadership that fosters unity and strives to uproot the sources of conflict.
The award ceremony will also be a time for reflection about how far the world has come in achieving peace and a reaffirmation that there is still much work to be done in areas of human rights, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation. For Jonathan, this award is an acknowledgment of his dedication to peace and democracy, principles that will remain a guiding force in his life’s work for many years to come.
According to GistNexus Political Analyst
The naming of former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan as the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award laureate is a historic one, both for Jonathan and for the African continent. As the first African leader to receive the highly regarded award, Jonathan now joins a very illustrious group of world leaders committed to peace and human development. His ongoing work in African peace-making and pro-democracy movements is representative of the Sunhak Peace Prize ideals and inspires future generations of leaders to continue working toward a more peaceful and equal world.
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Reported by GistNexus Team and Edited by Mr. Chibueze Onwuka