 |
| ▲Founder of Sunhak Peace Prize Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina, Ms. Waris Dirie, Dr. Il Sik Hong Chairman |
At the Lotte Hotel World in Seoul, South Korea, the 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize Award Ceremony convened on February 9, 2019, with about 1,000 participants in attendance, including 100 current and former heads of state, representatives and leaders from around the world. A cash prize of $500,000 were given to each Laureate. The founder, Dr. Hak Ja Han Moon, presented the medal and Chairman of the Sunhak Committee, Dr. Il Sik Hong, presented a plaque to the Laureates.
 |
| ▲Welcome Address: Dr. Il Sik Hong, Chairman |
For his welcome address, Chairman Hong stated the Award Theme of this year’s Award, “Human Rights and Human Development in Africa,” and asserted that “When we reflect upon peace and human development, putting down the weapons of war is only one step toward building world peace. Peace can be achieved only when everyone’s human rights are protected and respected.”
 |
| ▲Awarding Medal and Plaque: Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina |
The 2019 Sunhak Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Adesina served as the Associate Director for Food Security at the Rockefeller Foundation in New York, USA, Vice President for Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) in Nairobi, Kenya, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development in Nigeria and many other roles to focus on human development in Africa. In 2015, Dr. Adesina was appointed the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and he has been spearheading Africa’s comprehensive development through the “High 5 Strategy,” at the AfDB that includes: Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialize Africa, Integrate Africa and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa.
 |
| ▲Acceptance Speech: Dr. Akinwumi A. Adesina |
Through his acceptance speech, Dr. Adesina asserted that, “Yet, there’s still so much to do to make the world a better place for all. That’s why this Sunhak Peace Prize is a great inspiration for me. It is a call to do more for those least privileged around the world and especially in Africa.Nothing is more important than ensuring that we feed the world and eliminate hunger and malnutrition.”
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Address: Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, The President of The World Food Prize Foundation |
For the congratulatory remarks, Ambassador Kenneth M. Quinn, the President of the World Food Prize, address that “On behalf of our World Food Prize Council of Advisors, I commend Dr. Il Sik Hong and the Sunhak Peace Prize Committee for its selection of Dr. Adesina for this extraordinary high honor and this extraordinarily well-deserved global recognition. The challenge of feeding 9 to 10 billion people will ultimately be decided in those areas with between one and two billion people: In China, in India, in Latin America centered around Brazil, and in Africa. Moreover, the Suhhak Peace Prize Laureate, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina has an even higher platform from which to confront this ultimate challenge and bring Africa a Green Revolution.”
 |
| ▲Awarding of Medal and Plaque: Ms. Waris Dirie |
Our Co-Laureate Waris Dirie is the human rights pioneer in the fight against female genital mutilation (FGM) and she has raised the issue for the first time as a worldwide human rights agenda for its tragic acts. She has been leading worldwide campaigns to eradicate FGM.
 |
| ▲Acceptance Speech: Ms. Waris Dirie |
Through her acceptance speech, Waris insisted that “When I think about peace, the first thing that I experienced was my father beating up my mother. I was just a kid, but I was sure something was wrong. So, from there, I decided to change myself and the most important thing for there was peace in my family, in the communities and peace in the world.”
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Address: H.E. Seynab Abdi Moallim, First Lady of the Federal Republic of Somalia |
For her congratulatory remarks, the First Lady of Somalia, Her Exellency Seynab Moallim shared, “Giving these congratulatory remarks today on this stage is a special occasion for me, since Ms. Dirie and I are both from Somalia. For over thousands of years, FGM has been practiced in many countries. And fighting against this deep-rooted tradition is not easy. On the contrary, it is an unimaginably painful path to take. I admire her for her bravery in challenging this practice. I am deeply inspired by her passion in taking on the lonely path to bring about the eradication of female genital mutilation.”
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Performance: Joon-ho Son |
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Performance: Sohyun Kim |
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Performance: Expression Crew |
 |
| ▲Congratulatory Performance: Little Angels Art School |
The Award Ceremony closed with a beautiful harmony of performances organized by Married- Musical Artist Couple Sohyun Kim and Joon-ho Son, Little Angels and world-recognized dancing crew the Expression Crew.
