Coming from South Africa’s North West Province, Abu-baker holds a diploma in Project Management & Community Development from Damelin College, is a practicing Muslim, husband and father of 2 boys. Having worked extensively in the region conducting training for religious leaders in partnership with the International Network of Religious Leaders living with & affected by HIV and AIDS, Abu worked for the Islamic Relief Foundation as an HIV & Gender Based Violence Officer, the Muslim Aids Programme as a Project Manager for outreach programmes and is a board member and treasurer of INERELA South Africa as well as the Chair & Mentor for the Young Muslim Association.
Recipient of the Kasi Young Leader and Mentor Award in 2012, Abu is a regular on SA television and radio spaces speaking about Islam and HIV. Abu joins the SRHR Portfolio after coordinating successful One Man Can (Soweto) and Brothers for Life (Mpumalanga) programmes in the north of South Africa. Abu’s new responsibilities will see him providing support to the South African HIV Prevention Advocacy Expert Group as well as secretariat and strategic support to Project ARM, an Africa wide movement to ensure that rectal microbicide research and development – a key part of which is access to safe, condom compatible lubricant – is on the African agenda.
