Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe
Jonathan, GCFR,
BNER,
GCON (born 20
November 1957) is a Nigerian politician who has been President of Nigeria
since 2010. Prior to his role as President, he served as Governor of
Bayelsa State from 2005 to 2007 and as Vice-President of
Nigeria from 2007 to 2010. Jonathan is a member of the ruling People's
Democratic Party (PDP).
Jonathan was born in what is
now Bayelsa State to a family of canoe makers.Jonathan holds a B.Sc.
degree in Zoology in which he attained Second Class Honours.
He holds an M.Sc. degree in Hydrobiology and Fisheries biology, and a PhD degree in
Zoology from the University of Port
Harcourt. Before he entered politics in 1998, he worked as an
education inspector, lecturer, and environmental-protection officer.
Jonathan and his wife Patience have two children. He is a Christian,
and he comes from the Ijaw ethnic group.
In 2007, President Jonathan
declared his assets worth a total of ₦ 295,304,420 Naira ($1,845,652 USD).[
following President Umaru Yar'Adua's
death on 5 May 2010, Vice-President Goodluck Jonathan was sworn in as President
of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 6 May 2010,[becoming Nigeria's 14th Head of State.
He cited anti-corruption, power and electoral reforms as focuses of his
administration. He stated that he came to office under "very sad and
unusual circumstances".
On 18 May 2010, the National
Assembly approved Jonathan's nomination of former Kaduna State governor, Namadi Sambo, for the position of Vice-President.