The University of Pretoria is profoundly saddened to announce the passing of Professor Rashid Hassan. Prof Hassan was an Emeritus Professor in the Department of Agriculture Economics, Extension and Rural Development, and a founding Director of the Centre for Environmental Economics and Policy in Africa (CEEPA).

He obtained a master’s degree from the University of Khartoum in Sudan and a PhD in Economics from Iowa State University. He joined the University of Pretoria in 1997 and retired in 2016. In 2020, he was appointed by the Government of Sudan as Secretary-General for the Higher Council for the Environment and Natural Resources.

Prof Hassan was a world-renowned academic in his field of environmental and natural resource economics with a focus on policy. He contributed immensely to the department and elevated it to an international level. He significantly contributed to capacity building through mentorship and training programmes on the African continent through CEEPA.

Prof Hassan’s departure is a massive loss to the Department, Faculty, UP, and the African continent. He was laid to rest in line with Islamic ritess on 6 June 2023.

Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, friends, and all those who have been touched by his work.