Former Nigerian President, Goodluck Jonathan, has been named the recipient of the 2025 Founders Sunhak Peace Award.
Ikechukwu Eze, Jonathan’s special adviser, confirmed the development in a statement issued on Monday in Abuja.
According to Eze, the award will be conferred on Jonathan by the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11.
This recognition makes him the third recipient of this award category and the first African leader to be honored, following former United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen.
The 2025 ceremony marks the sixth edition of the award, during which Jonathan and other distinguished recipients will be celebrated.
The Sunhak Peace Prize Committee acknowledged Jonathan’s commitment to peacebuilding and democracy in Africa, highlighting his mediation efforts and 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).
The Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation grants two distinct awards biennially—the Sunhak Peace Award and the Sunhak Peace Prize—to individuals and organizations contributing to global peace and human development.
Notable past 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 receive the award alongside three other laureates: 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 founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize, praised the winners for their efforts in advancing peace through meaningful actions and cultural transformation.
Since its establishment in 2015, the Sunhak Peace Prize has recognized individuals and organizations making significant contributions to sustainable human development, conflict resolution, and ecological conservation—its three core values.