In a distinguished honor, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan has been awarded the 2025 Founder’s Sunhak Peace Award, making him the first African leader and third individual to receive this accolade, following in the footsteps of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. 

Scheduled to take place on April 11th in Seoul, South Korea, the 6th edition of the Sunhak Peace Prize Ceremony will celebrate Jonathan's contributions, alongside other esteemed laureates. The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee has recognized Mr. Jonathan for his relentless mediation efforts and pro-democracy initiatives that have significantly fostered peace across Africa. Through platforms such as the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, the West African Elders Forum, and the International Summit Council for Peace, Jonathan has been a formidable advocate for peace and democratic governance.

The biennial Sunhak Peace Prize, established in 2015, aims to honor those who advance global peace and development through sustainable human growth, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation. The list of notable past recipients includes figures like former Senegalese President Macky Sall and Dr. Sarah Catherine Gilbert, co-developer of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine.

This year’s award will be presented alongside recipients in other categories, including 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. 

Hak Ja Han Moon, founder of the Peace Prize, remarked in her pre-event address on the significance of the laureates' contributions, emphasizing that their actions demonstrate how peace can be achieved through tangible efforts and cultural transformation.

The award highlights Jonathan's legacy as Nigeria's leader from 2010 to 2015, where he set a precedent for peaceful transitions and democratic integrity—a commendable example for the continent and the world.