Ayo Sogunro
Ayo Sogunro is one amazing Nigeria writer, social entrepreneur and lawyer.
Ayo Sogunro is a successful writer and mastermind behind the widely-acclaimed and popular short stories; “The Wonderful Life of Senator Boniface and other Sorry Tales”. The book, a collection of 14 stories about Nigeria and Nigerians was listed as one of the top 25 Nigerian books of 2013. He also has to his credit, several referenced and published essays in both national and international media. He is known for his work in social advocacy and civil rights protection as captured in his essays, poetry, and stories.
Ayo has an impressive educational background including a Bachelor of Law degree from the University of Lagos in 2007 and was called to the Nigerian bar in 2008. He holds a Master of Laws degree in Human Rights and Democratization in Africa from the Centre of Human Rights, University of Pretoria and a Doctor of Law degree in Sexual and Reproductive Rights from a critical legal studies perspective, also from the University of Pretoria.
Over the last decade, Ayo has worked with two high-profile law firms in Lagos – G. Elias & Co., and Templars. He has also worked with two foremost non-profit organizations – The Initiative for Equal Rights in Lagos, Nigeria and the Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria, South Africa; where he advises on several private and public-impact issues in both corporate and human rights law.
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Ayo is currently the Manager of the Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity and Sex Characteristics Unit (SOGIESC) at the Centre for Human Rights, Pretoria, where he consults for various international and local organizations on human rights policy and human rights education amongst others. He is currently focused on the protection of sexual minorities in Nigeria and Africa.
Before the Centre for Human Rights, he was an Academic Associate at the University of Pretoria and served successfully between April 2018 and December 2020. He briefly served as a Contributing Writer at Guardian Newspaper Nigeria, and a Columnist for Punch Newspapers.
Ayo’s literary essay – One More Nation Bound in Freedom was shortlisted for the 2016 Gerald Kraak Award for African Writing.
In recognition of his impacts, he was named among one of the 100 Most Influential Nigerians in 2017.
Ayo’s works can be accessed directly on his website: www.ayosogunro.com and the social satire blog: www.idlemindset.com.