Born November 20, 1957 Dr. Goodluck Jonathan is the current President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He was sworn in May 6, 2010 following the death of Umaru Yar'Adua who until his death May 5, 2010 was Nigeria's President and Jonathan's boss. Prior to becoming Nigeria's president Jonathan was Vice President and later Acting President due to Yar'Adua's protracted illness and incapacitation. He is a members of the ruling People’s Democratic Party, and hails from Otueke in Ogbia kingdom, Bayelsa State, Nigeria.

Jonathan was sworn in as Vice President May 29, 2007. Prior to his becoming Vice President, he had served as deputy governor for the state of Bayelsa, Nigeria. Later when his then boss and governor of Beyelsa state, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, was impeached he became the governor of Bayelsa state from December 9, 2005 to May 28 2007. He successfully served out the remaining term of what was remaining of the Alamieyeseigha / Jonathan ticket in Bayelsa state. Before the expiration of his take-over term from Alamieyeseigha he successfully won re-election to become governor of Bayelsa state.

However, he never served his second term as governor. The reason being that in December 2006 before the end of his first term as governor he was chosen by his party as a running mate to then presidential candidate Umaru Yar'Adua for the People's Democratic Party ticket. The Yar’Adua / Jonathan ticket won the presidential election and the rest is now part of Nigeria’s Fourth Republic history.

Jonathan attended Mater Dei High in School in Emiringi, Ogbia and graduated in 1975. Two years later he was admitted to University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT), Rivers State, Nigeria to study zoology. He graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor of Science degree. Later he enrolled for graduate school at the same university, UNIPORT, majoring in Hydrobiology and Fisheries biology. He graduated in 1985 with a Master's degree, but he was not done with academics yet. He applied to UNIPORT's doctoral program in zoology and got accepted. He graduated from the doctoral program in 1995 and was awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

Dr. Jonathan is married to Patience and they live in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, with their children.

President Goodluck Jonathan / Biography