Goodluck Jonathan
Goodluck Jonathan is a Nigerian zoologist and politician who served as vice president and president of Nigeria.
World Leader
November 20, 1957
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Goodluck Jonathan, a Nigerian zoologist and politician, was born on November 20, 1957, in Otuoke, Nigeria. As a member of the Ijo (Ijaw) ethnic group and a Christian, he grew up in the Niger delta region. After attending Christian primary and secondary schools, he pursued a career in education. Before entering politics, Jonathan worked as an educator and science inspector of education.
Jonathan served as Nigeria’s vice president from 2007 to 2010 and as president from 2010 to 2015. During his presidency, he focused on enhancing the country’s infrastructure and privatizing its power sector. He also contributed to the establishment of Nigeria’s first sovereign wealth fund and founded the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, an organization dedicated to promoting peace-building and democracy in Africa.
In a historic event, Jonathan became the first incumbent Nigerian president to concede defeat when he lost the 2015 presidential election to General Muhammadu Buhari. Although his initial international reputation was not strong and his popularity declined after his election, Jonathan’s rise to power was both rapid and highly unlikely. Despite facing challenges such as increasing sectarian violence, he is remembered for his contributions to Nigeria’s infrastructure, his peaceful transition of power, and his efforts to promote peace and democracy in Africa through the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation.