Excellencies, Former Heads of State,

Mr. Prime Minister, Honorable Presidents of Parliament,

Excellency Mr. Ban Ki Moon, former Secretary General of the United Nations, dear friend,

Dear and Honorable Mother Han, founder of the Sunhak Peace Prize Foundation,

ladies and gentlemen,

it is a great honor and a deep personal joy to speak before you today at this Sunhak Peace Prize award ceremony. It is an honor and a duty of gratitude. As the laureate of the 4th edition of the Prize, due to official responsibilities, I was unable to attend the ceremony at the time. I therefore felt it was a duty to be with you for this summit.

I pay tribute to Reverend Sun Myung Moon, the visionary behind the Universal Peace Federation, and respectfully salute the Honorable Mother Han, who continues to serve the ideal of peace and human fraternity with generosity and commitment.

I also extend my greetings and thanks to the members of the organizing committee for their dedication to UPF.

In a world exhausted by war, violence in all its forms, climate crisis, and persistent inequalities, working toward the ideal of peace and human fraternity is an act of faith, goodwill, courage, and patience.

This is what the 2025 Sunhak Prize laureates have demonstrated. Congratulations to you, Ms. Wanjira Mathai, Mr. Hugh Evans, Dr. Patrick Awuah, and to the recipients of the Founder's Special Prize, my brother Goodluck Jonathan, former President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and His Eminence Samuel Radebe.

Dear friends,

In these challenging times, honoring those who strive for peace, development and human dignity is more than a symbolic act. It is a moral imperative. That is precisely why we stand together here today.

This Prize not only recognizes the achievements of the laureates, but it also serves as an encouragement for all of us to continue this work, as the quest for peace and human fraternity requires a renewed commitment every day. Together, through shared commitment and unwavering hope, we will succeed in building a more peaceful and united world.

Thank you for your kind attention.