Former President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan has been awarded the African Sun Times’ International Person of the Year 2015 for his role in ensuring a peaceful civilian-to-civilian transition in Nigeria.
The African Sun Times is the largest weekly African newspaper in America and has been in circulation for 37 years.
According to the organisers, the award was given to Jonathan “who shocked the whole world by swiftly calling current Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari and conceding his defeat in the March 29 Nigerian presidential election, thereby stopping the predictions of violent bloodshed in Nigeria, and keeping his words that he would not allow the blood of a Nigerian to be shed to further his political ambitions.”
The award citation added: “President Jonathan must be applauded for creating a solid foundation for the growth of democracy in Africa. The world has started to recognize President Jonathan’s courageous act.”
Other categories of the awards include: African Statesman Of The Year 2015, Corporate Social Responsibility Company Of The Year 2015, Pan-African Person Of The Year 2015, Diaspora Person Of The Year 2015, Most Influential Person Of The Year Under 40 2015 and Tourism Ambassador Of The Year 2015.
The Most Influential Person of the Year under 40 2015 was given to popular blogger, Linda Ikeji, for being a “role model to thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs in Nigeria, male and female”.