The Centre for Human Rights at the end of March 2023, bid farewell to two outstanding alumni of the Master’s programme in Human Rights and Democratisation in Africa (HRDA), who also served the Centre as invaluable staff members. The Centre has been fortunate to be a teacher and a witness of the personal developments of Dr Ayodele Sogunro, who we all know as Ayo, and Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo. The following comes to mind:
‘If you are brave enough to say goodbye, life will reward you with a new hello’ – Paulo Coelho
Former Manager of the SOGIESC Unit – Dr Ayodele Sogunro
Dr Ayo Sogunro has been with us at the Centre for almost six years. Coming all the way from Nigeria to the Centre, Ayo came as a student in 2017 to complete the HRDA programme. He later pursued his LLD at the Centre in 2018 under the supervision of the Centre’s Director, Professor Frans Viljoen, graduating in 2021. Ayo has made enormous contributions towards the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Expression, and Sex Characteristics (SOGIESC) Unit. He joined the SOGIESC Unit in 2019 and took over as Unit Manager in 2020.
‘This decision was not an easy one, as I have thoroughly enjoyed working with everyone over the years and being a part of this amazing organisation as a project staff’, said Ayo. Landilani Banda, an alumnus of the Master’s programme in Human Rights Law and HIV in Africa, will act as Manager of the SOGIESC Unit., as he completes his doctorate with the Centre
Former Student Coordinator for the HRDA Master’s Programme – Johannes Buabeng-Baidoo
Most of us HRDA alumni would remember Johannes as our first port of contact. During his term as the HRDA Programme Coordinator, Johannes has gone extra miles to facilitate the stay of students in Pretoria and even while students were away for their second semester at partner universities outside South Africa. Johannes, a Ghanaian national, did his Master’s programme in HRDA in 2011 and later went on to pursue his doctorate at the Centre. The Centre is proud to have a remarkable alumnus like Johannes. After completing the HRDA programme, he took on a teaching position at the Faculty of Law at the University of The Gambia, as part of the support by the Centre to the Faculty. Johannes left a deep mark on the faculty, in particular in curriculum development, rising to hold the position of Acting Dean of the Faculty of Law. It was also during Johannes’ term as Acting Dean that the Faculty of Law of the University of the Gambia was ranked among the top participants in the African Human Rights Moot Court Competition. On behalf of the Centre, we wish to thank Johannes for his commendable work as Coordinator. Johannes’s role has been taken over by Rotondwa Mashige, an alumna of the Master’s programme in HRDA (2017) and current doctoral candidate at the Centre.
Centre’s Director’s, Professor Frans Viljoen, message to Ayo and Johannes
Professor Viljoen, Director of the Centre, remarked as follows: ‘Ayo and Johannes have been invaluable assets to the Centre. We are saddened by their departure, but we are also happy that both will be able to continue with what they are passionate about, the fight for human rights in Africa and beyond. While it is an official goodbye to them as Centre’s staff, it does not signify the end of our collaborations together. We wish Ayo and Johannes well in their future path and we also thank them immensely for their contributions at the Centre, contributions that will forever be remembered. On behalf of the Centre’s staff who have worked with both of you in the past, and who have learnt a lot working with two selfless leaders like you both, we wish you good luck in your future endeavours.’
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