Bodour Osman Abu Affan obituary

My colleague Professor Bodour Osman Abu Affan, who has died of cancer aged 67, was a remarkable woman. Born into an affluent family in Wad Medani, Sudan, and educated at Omdurman high school for girls, she represented the second generation of female activists significantly to advance the cause of women in Sudan. The right to vote and to equal pay had already been achieved when she and others took practical steps to demonstrate that women could compete with men; co-operate with them and excel. She was awarded her PhD from the University of Khartoum in 1984, after spending a year at the University of California, Berkeley. She furthered her career in the field of development economics, both nationally as the director of the Social and Economic Research Council in Khartoum, and internationally as the first female vice-president of operations at the African Development Bank in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. She advised both government and private sectors in Sudan, publishing numerous articles and a book. Bodour championed many initiatives that would empower women in business, and became a role model to many in Sudan. A highlight of her achievements was the campaign success of the National Union of Sudanese Women – led by Bodour and Raja Hassan Khalifa – in securing 25% of the seats for women in the next parliament. Bodour rarely mentioned her cancer; but looked forward to the elections, which have just begun, and spoke of her plans to run as an independent candidate. Bodour married Dr Fareed Atabani, an academic and World Bank economist, and, in the 1970s, brought up their two children while studying for her master's degree at the American University in Washington DC. While there, Bodour's culinary skills became legendary, with her introduction of Sudanese cuisine into diplomatic circles. Bodour had a kind and compassionate heart. When her husband died, she sold his car and donated the money to pipe Nile water to a small village near Khartoum. When approached by a neighbouring village, she immediately did the same for them. She is survived by her son and daughter. • This article was amended on 13 April 2010. The original stated that 25 seats in the next Sudanese parliament have been secured for women. This has been corrected.