Former Nigerian President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has reaffirmed his unwavering dedication to the promotion of peace and service to humanity both in Nigeria and across the globe, following his recognition as the 2025 recipient of the prestigious Sunhak Global Peace Prize Award.
Speaking at a reception in his honour on Sunday in Abuja, organised by the “Friends of Dr Goodluck Jonathan,” the former president expressed deep gratitude for the international recognition and pledged to continue his peacebuilding efforts throughout his lifetime.
“I wouldn’t say much, but only to thank you and to reassure you that my commitment to peace will continue,” Jonathan stated. “I will continue to do my little best until the last day I will live on earth. I believe that’s the only way I can serve God, by serving man.”
Jonathan, who was honoured in Seoul, South Korea, on April 11, became the third recipient and the first African leader to receive the award, joining the ranks of former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon and Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen. He was recognised for his efforts in conflict mediation and advancing democratic values across the African continent.
Reflecting on his early life, the former president noted how growing up in a humble background shaped his passion for alleviating suffering and promoting justice.
“That has been my fear, and that was why I was very reluctant when I was approached to come to the centre, to be a vice president,” Jonathan said. “I said, look, Bayelsa is a small state. Let me see what I can do with this small state, whether I can make significant changes, but today here I am.”
Notable figures at the reception included the 2023 Labour Party Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi, who chaired the occasion and praised Jonathan’s legacy of sacrifice.
“You have put in a lot of efforts to ensure there is peace in Nigeria, Africa and the world as a whole,” Obi said, adding that Easter Sunday — a day symbolic of sacrifice — was a fitting occasion to celebrate Jonathan’s achievements.
Azibaola Robert, Managing Director of Kakatar Group and the event’s Chief Host, lauded Jonathan’s lifelong commitment to peace. “Jonathan is a God-sent, not only to his Bayelsa people, but to Nigeria and the world. He is a big character whose life continues to teach us new lessons every day,” he said.
Ambassador Hassan Tukur, Jonathan’s former Principal Private Secretary, highlighted the former president’s instrumental role in resolving crises in Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Guinea-Bissau, and Kenya, often putting his own safety on the line in pursuit of peace.
“He saved lives, he saved people, and he saved the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire,” Tukur recalled, referencing Jonathan’s mediation during the post-election crisis of 2010. “Up to date, the Malians are grateful that he was the only sitting president who visited their country in the height of their crisis.”
Former Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, described Jonathan as a patriot and a model for African leadership. “It is not easy to find, around this continent, a leader who would say the presidency of a nation is not worth the blood of the citizen. That statement stood him up,” he said, referencing Jonathan’s historic concession in the 2015 presidential election.
Among dignitaries present at the event were Dame Patience Jonathan; King Amalate Turner, the paramount ruler of Oloibiri Kingdom in Bayelsa State; Olori Opeoluwa Ogunwusi, wife of the Ooni of Ife; and numerous former ministers, governors, and aides.
Established in 2015, the Sunhak Global Peace Prize is awarded biennially to individuals and organisations that have made significant contributions to global peace, sustainable development, or ecological preservation.
Jonathan’s recognition is seen as a testament not only to his personal legacy but also to Nigeria’s potential as a force for peace on the global stage.
