Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has been selected as the winner of the 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Award.
In a statement issued on Monday in Abuja, Jonathan’s special adviser, Ikechukwu Eze, confirmed that the award will be presented by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11.
With this recognition, Jonathan becomes the first African leader and the third individual to receive this particular award, following in the footsteps of former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The upcoming ceremony will be the sixth edition of the award, where Jonathan and other honorees will be celebrated.
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee highlighted Jonathan’s consistent role in promoting peace and democracy across Africa, citing his mediation efforts and leadership in organizations such as the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation (GJF), the West African Elders’ Forum (WAEF), and the International Summit Council for Peace (ISCP).
The Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation grants two major awards biennially—the Sunhak Peace Award and the Sunhak Peace Prize—recognizing individuals and organizations committed to advancing global peace and development.
Previous recipients of the Sunhak Peace Prize include former Senegalese President Macky Sall, African Development Bank (AfDB) President Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Dame Sarah Gilbert (co-developer of the Oxford AstraZeneca vaccine), and GAVI, the Vaccine Alliance.
Jonathan will be honored alongside three other distinguished individuals: 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. Their selection was announced by José Barroso, Chair of the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee and former President of the European Commission.
Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, the prize’s founder, commended the honorees for their contributions to peacebuilding through tangible actions and cultural transformation.
Established in 2015, the Sunhak Peace Prize recognizes individuals and organizations that have made outstanding contributions in three key areas: sustainable human development, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation.