After almost 4 years of exceptional leadership at the Africa Albinism Network (AAN), Ikponwosa “I.K” Ero will step down from her role as Executive Director on December 31, 2024, for personal reasons. However, she will continue to serve AAN as a Senior Adviser.
When I.K shared this news, we collectively felt a great sense of sadness and loss. Her exemplary leadership has transformed AAN into a stronger professional organization, guiding us through critical moments of change, and elevating AAN to international recognition and credibility. Her years of service and commitment in the ecosystem of human rights advocacy has connected AAN to various movements in human rights, climate change, and disability rights spaces in Africa and globally.
We are confident that I.K. will continue to make her imprint on this world by creating a better world for people with disabilities, including those with albinism. The AAN team is stronger today because of her vision and leadership. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to IK for sharing her talents with AAN.
As we have had time to digest this information, we also feel hopeful and energized for our future at AAN. With significant consideration given to the skills, experiences, and expertise needed to successfully guide AAN in its next phase of growth, the Board has appointed Bonface Massah as Executive Director, beginning January 2025. We are confident that under his leadership, AAN will continue to flourish and make an even greater impact by achieving its mission and vision.
“I am more than just a genetic condition with lack of melanin, white skin, hair and low vison to steal, kill, and destroy. Although persecuted and troubled from every side, as persons with albinism, I believe in building a strong disability movement and that has been so rewarding in healing many scars on lives of persons with albinism.”
Bonface is a human rights defender with over 15 years of professional experience in civil society, fighting injustices and oppression against persons with disabilities particularly persons with albinism who have been targets of ritual killings and harmful practices in his home country of Malawi, among other African countries. Bonface has shown remarkable leadership and perseverance in promoting the inclusion of persons with disabilities including through grassroots advocacy and policy development. He holds a master’s degree (MPhil) in Rehabilitation, Disability, Gender and Development studies from University of Stellenbosch, South Africa and a second master’s (MPhil) degree in Human Rights and Disability Rights from the University of Pretoria, South Africa. He is the inaugural winner of the BARI-BARI PRIZE (2015-2025) and the first person with albinism in Africa to be honored as an albinism champion for his advocacy work.
In 2021, he was appointed to serve as Commissioner of the Malawi Human Rights Commission where he held critical leadership positions including as the chairperson of the Disability and Elderly Thematic Committee which is responsible for overseeing implementation of interventions aimed at promoting and protecting the rights of persons with disabilities. He also served as the chairperson of the Commission’s Child Rights Thematic Committee.
Throughout his career, Bonface has devoted his life to progressive leadership of the disability movement across Africa and beyond. He worked as Executive Director for Standing Voice Malawi, an international organization defending the human rights of persons with albinism; and served as Chairperson for the Federation of Disability Organization in Malawi (FEDOMA). He has also served as Chairperson of the Disability Regional Advocacy Platform for the Southern Africa Federation for the Disabled (SAFOD). He was also selected by his peers to serve as an expert member of the Albinism Think Tank team created by the UN Independent Expert on enjoyment of human rights by persons with albinism which co-developed the AU plan of action to end attacks and other human rights violations targeting persons with albinism in Africa (“Plan of Action” 2021–2031). He further worked with the UN Expert to successfully advocate for the adoption of the Plan of Action at the African Union Commission as well as the adoption of a guide to tackle harmful practices including ritual attacks at the Pan-African Parliament. Previously, Bonface led the Association of Persons with Albinism in Malawi (APAM) in the capacity of President and National Coordinator from 2009-2016. He has also served on the Board of Directors for the Malawi Network Against Trafficking in Persons (M-NAT), and Disabled Women in Africa (DIWA).
Let’s warmly welcome Bonface!
