A puzzling question is how does one commemorate this day of great importance which highlights and advances the work women around the world have done towards achieving gender equality?

The answer is not quite straightforward but this year’s unique theme (Break The Bias) unequivocally sparks great strides in recognizing the utmost importance of equality today for a sustainable tomorrow. This speaks to advancing conversation on gender equality in the context of the climate crisis and disaster risk reduction. Currently, women are underrepresented in the decision-making process on environmental governance. This leaves women at a disadvantage as they should be equally represented in decision-making structures to allow them to contribute their unique and valuable perspectives and expertise on climate change. The United Nations (UN) have published a fact sheet named Women, Gender Equality and Climate Change discussing the matter, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) published a report called Gender, Climate Change and Health that also addresses the way gender inequality interacts with climate issues.

A large number of rights are impacted by climate change. These include the right to life, right to clean water, right to health, right to food and the right to self-determination. Since women already struggle with human rights issues more than men, climate change exacerbates these problems and creates further gender inequalities.

Understanding that climate change is not only an environmental issue but also one of social justice, industrial and economic reform, women’s rights, poverty and development, trade and commerce, and indigenous rights, it is important to remember, however, that women are not only vulnerable to climate change but they are also effective actors or agents of change in relation to both mitigation and adaptation.

I have been fortunate to be surrounded and observant of powerful women and girls who have channelled their time and resources in promoting equality in their various fields of work. These women not only champion causes that promote women’s rights, but adequately work towards adaptation and  mitigating climate change in Nigeria. 

As the world marks International Women’s day today,  I choose to bring to fore these three women who have magically walked the talk and have a strong body of knowledge and expertise that can be used in climate change mitigation, disaster reduction and adaptation strategies. 

Esther Agbarakwe

Fondly called ‘Estherclimate’ by her peers founded the Nigerian Youth Climate Coalition (NYCC) after returning from Copenhagen Climate Change Conference in 2009, where she led the Nigerian youth delegation. She has worked with remarkable leaders like Desmond Tutu, Mary Robinson and Gro Harlem Brundtland, among several others, to advocate for meaningful involvement and participation of youth in development especially in the formulation and implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

In 2009, Agbarakwe was awarded the Dekeyser & Friends Foundation Leadership Award in Germany. She was selected as a 2010 Women Deliver 100 Young Leaders and became a Commonwealth Youth Climate Fellow in November 2010. In 2012, she participated in the UNICEF supported debate on Climate Change where she advocated for the right of young people to lend their voice to the conversation. In 2015, she joined the Guardian conversation on ways to powerfully communicate climate change solutions. On the sidelines of the 74th Session of the United Nations General Assembly, she alongside other Nigeria Climate Change Activists met with the Nigeria President, Muhammadu Buhari where they made a case for the value young people are bringing to the conversation. Ms. Agbarakwe is also co-founder of Climate Wednesday, a notable youth platform on environment issues that seeks to build a climate generation across Africa. Esther’s body of work can be seen to have spanned over two decades and while it seems like mitigation of climate change progress is minute, she lights hope that sustainability is essential for sustainable development.

Hyeladzira James Mshelia

Zira is a programs Associate at Connected Development with technical and programmatic management skills in designing and implementing gender equality, environmental and climate-related projects, policy influencing, and WASH campaigns in Africa.

Hyeladzira has a Bachelor’s degree (B.SC) in Environmental Biology which she has used to develop targeted programs/ interventions on environmental sustainability and climate action. Passionate about promoting the culture of environmental Sustainability in Nigeria and West Africa to achieve SDGs 13, 14, and 15,  Hyeladzira is responsible for spearheading the activities of  Earth Hour yearly. She is part of the  Climate Reality Leadership Corps,  a global network of activists and influencers who advocate for climate crisis and justice. She is a member of the World Economic Forum; a Global Shaper with the Abuja hub where she is the grants manager and co-chairs the “Abuja Dialogue Series” aimed at policy development from community/stakeholder engagement, mobilization, and dialogue.

She was a delegate at the Nigerian International Secondary Schools Model United Nations (NISSMUN) Conference were as a representative of the United Nations representing Slovakia, she deliberated discussed, and debated the country’s adaptation to a recycling-friendly, zero-waste circular economy and how imperative it is for her to sign the Paris Agreement. 

Jennifer Uchendu

​​Jennifer Uchendu, a sustainability communicator, analyst, the founder of SustyVibes- an organisation passionate about sustainability and women development in Africa. In 2016, Uchendu founded SustyVibes, a social enterprise making sustainability actionable for young people in Nigeria through projects, products and policies. SustyVibes was born out of the need to create a platform where Nigerian youths can contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals through pop-cultural tools like music, photography, movies, tourism etc.

SustyVibes has gained popularity via its innovative projects that engage young people like Susty parties, campus cleanups, street conference, hangouts, eco-tours, movie screenings and trendy online publications – Jennifer has been said to be making sustainability cool in Nigeria; making a case for the advancement of the green economy in Africa. Jennifer believes strongly that women have a critical role to play in ensuring sustainable development in Nigeria.

The importance of gender equality for improved climate outcome is equally crucial that mitigation and adaptation efforts integrate gender issues at all levels. Drawing on women’s experiences, and as we mark this women’s day, it is imperative to note that women’s  knowledge and skills and supporting their empowerment will make climate change responses more effective while vying for a sustainable society.

Wheww!!

It’s been eight years! Eight awesome years of being a CODEr. Eight years of working with awesome humans! Eight years of walking into the best work environment one can wish to be in. Eight years of climbing various ladders of success and channeling inner strength towards building a bubbling beautiful career! Eight years of challenges and triumphs. Eight years of progressive visible growth!

Eight years ago, my story began. On February 10, 2014, I received my offer letter to begin working as a volunteer. My career goal has always been simple: to make the most of opportunities given to me and to keep learning and growing incrementally. Luckily, this has happened through the course of my career;  as I moved from one project to the next, from one position (as a volunteer) to becoming the Chief Operating Officer (COO) and through the process, a recurring thought is that I have to keep going and keep working.

While it sounds like the ultimate success story, there’s also the background story. In eight years, so much happened and then so much didn’t…. (at least I know for a fact that I didn’t add weight) but more importantly, life-impacting projects were launched and completed, while some were shelved and didn’t see the light of day. I have met all kinds of people, visited different places, built wonderful bonds and friendships and as in the very nature of life, lost relationships… all part of which I consider a growth process.

It feels like a lifetime ago… a career span characterized by many highs and lows;  that it’s difficult to recall all the precious moments but I do remember some experiences. I remember the people I have worked with because they made the journey beautiful and at times easy and the people I still work with till this day, you know I could never have done it alone!

I’m grateful to all those I have met along this path. Those who have supported me in the last eight years, especially Hamzy who gave me the opportunity to shine. He made it happen!

My greatest learning is that grace and professionalism are the two key traits that everyone needs in a career. I have also learnt that passion overrides everything else. Oh yeah, this was what pushed me going. No level of perfection is ever enough and the strife is an on-going one. I don’t know what I will be doing in the coming years, but I’m happy where I am now and that’s all that matters.

There may be many more miles to go before I sleep but for now this is a great place to be, to rest, to take stock, to connect and reconnect, to generate ideas and let go of some.

The possibilities of this career path are endless and I’m open to exploring them while trusting the divine to let the rest usually fall into place.

On tracking COVID funds in Nigeria, Followthemoney and BudgIT organised a platform for civil society organisations (CSOs) and the media to discuss and share learnings gathered from tracking COVID funds and assessing the state of the Nigerian healthcare system in battling the global pandemic.

The purpose of the coalition meeting was to understand the possible challenges CSOs faced while monitoring government’s responsiveness to the COVID pandemic, share experiences and learnings on how those challenges were surmounted leading to positive results. Discussions also provided insights for adequate analysis and strategic ideas of how to better engage the government for accountability.

Discussions also provided insights for adequate analysis and strategic ideas of how to better engage the government for accountability. CODE revealed findings from its report on the condition of Primary Healthcare Centres across the geo-political zones in Nigeria.  It noted that 80% of these PHCs were in deplorable conditions and were unfit to administer vaccines. BudgIT’s research shows COVID-19 accountability mechanisms, challenges with procurement processes, government’s fiscal capacity & options for future emergency fund management.

Recall Follow The Money and BudgIT launched the COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP), an initiative that seeks to promote accountability and transparency through the tracking of COVID-19 intervention funds across 7 African countries. Both organizations leverated their social accountability platforms, as well as international chapters in other six focus African countries to activate a Pan-African tracking system for all COVID-19 funds received and donated to these countries.

Take aways from the CSO coalition meeting are progressive ways to build corporation and alliance among CSO for better actions, demand good governance, transparency and accountability in public service delivery. #FollowCOVIDMoney #Account4COVID

By Hamzat Lawal

We live in a world that is transforming, where norms are disrupted at the speed of light. However, a dimension of disruption that I still look forward to is the transfer of presidential power to the womenfolk.

For centuries now, we have lived with the paradox of ‘Man-Power’ on this planet. There have been successes recorded in leaps and bounds but we must admit that things have also fallen apart. More than 10 million people die of hunger every year; poverty, gender inequality and now the climate crises are some of the toughest issues we tackle daily in a world where we celebrate technology advancements. Men have been at the forefront of combating these global issues, with the support of women, of course. However, a disruption that must not be delayed any longer is one where a woman is given the opportunity to take the reins of highest power, especially in Africa where talks of a woman President are rare and deemed unacceptable.

Women may be seen as the softer gender but they are powerful beyond our imaginations. This is why I strongly believe that women must be given the opportunity to hold absolute leadership positions such as the Presidency. Now is the time to not only work for a change of narrative in women leadership, but to also embrace the change when it comes.

I must mention that the relevance and value of the Nigerian woman is not up for debate. The feminine gender has blazed the trail in every sector – in business, education innovation, civil society, the new “green industry” (renewable energy) and even the entertainment industry is abuzz with their prowess. However, one sector that continues to witness a dearth of women leadership is the political sector. Over the years, thousands of women have played pivotal roles in electing men into political offices, while voting in a handful of women. To put things in perspective, in the last Nigerian general elections, women accounted for over 40 million registered voters, making up about 47.14 percent of the total eligible voters, yet women were poorly represented in politics.

From my experience as a social accountability activist, I have not witnessed anything trickier than allowing a previously marginalized class into an enclosed political niche. My colleagues and I ran the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign and I came face to face with entrenched biases nurtured over the years, which have festered into a gangrene that now threatens national growth and development. The campaign, however, was successful.  In hindsight, I am convinced that we could break the glass ceiling by embracing the reality that both men and women can drive the call for a female president of Nigeria. Call it #NotTooFeminineToRun or #HelpWomenWin, the woman must stand up, organize and strategize, before she can buck the trend.

To be fair, women have often struggled for leadership roles in a male-dominated world. They have to deal with challenges that are beyond their control such as patriarchy and deeply-rooted traditions and social conditioning that insist women play second fiddle. While I call on women to arise, I acknowledge that men must also give unflinching support to women’s cause. There are so many examples of women leaders across the globe who have thrived and built their countries. Nigeria must not be left behind but must aboard this ship.

Nigeria is a beacon of hope in Africa, yet 61 years after independence, we cannot boast of a woman occupying either the presidency or any other high political office. While the country is known to be a culturally diverse, modern and cosmopolitan African nation, we are still backward in terms of gender equity.

The last National Convention of the main opposition political party, the People’s Democracy Party (PDP), was an epic example. Of all the twenty-one National Working Committee seats in the PDP, only one was won by a woman–the Women Leader seat. This means that in practical terms, no seat was conceded to a woman as the women leader’s seat was typical.

It is time to vote women into elective offices where they can make real changes, including the office of the President of Nigeria. There are exemplary women in leadership who have blazed exceptional trails and are presidential materials in their own right. 

It was under Okonjo-Iweala’s tenure as two-time Finance Minister that Nigeria became the biggest economy in Africa. She is now at the helm of affairs at the World Trade Organization (WTO), elected at the right time to move forward an institution that was beset with huge challenges as the global community struggles to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic. Amina J. Mohammed, now the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, led the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) interventions in Nigeria, and also rallied stakeholders for building the post-2015 infrastructure for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) mechanism.

The glass ceiling is not easy to crack, though. In the United States of America, Hillary Clinton nearly made history when she almost clinched the highest office in 2016. She was treading the path paved by female presidential aspirants before her such as Margaret Chase Smith, 1964; Shirley Chisholm, 1972; Patricia Schroeder, 1988; Elizabeth Dole, 2000; Carol Moseley Braun, 2004.

We must not lose sight of the goal and must find a way to liberate women for crucial seats in politics, including the presidency. However, the strategy can be like that of the #NotTooYoungToRun (the Age Reduction Act), which was actually a legislative reform aimed at amending the constitution to accommodate young people in elective offices. It was led by young people from different fields with different capacities, strengths and resources. They were resilient and would not be distracted. By the time the bills were presented in the Senate and at the House of Representatives, the movement had already engaged the legislators at the state levels. Young people drove this initiative because it was in their interest.

Now, for us to have a Madam President, women need to come together too. We can take lessons from America. EMILY’s List was founded in 1985 by Ellen Malcolm as a political action committee that aims to help elect Democratic female candidates in favor of abortion rights to office. The power of money in political campaigns is very important to electing women, so EMILY which is an acronym for Early Money Is Like Yeast because “it makes the dough rise” is a reference to the convention of political fundraising which theorizes that receiving many donations early in a race helps to attract subsequent donors. It now has over two million members.

In 1986, early financial support from EMILY’s List helped elect Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, the first female Democrat elected to the United States Senate in her own right (not appointed or filling a seat of a deceased husband). It endorsed 31 candidates in 2006, eight of whom were victorious. In the 2016 election cycle, it raised $60million, much of which was earmarked for Hillary Clinton, through its “Madam President campaign” initiative.

EMILY’s list chose to focus on raising money early for women in politics because women were not getting money from the Democratic party and that hindered them from winning political races despite that they were qualified.  The money raised prior to campaigns helped authenticate the movement and was crucial to attracting more funding from philanthropists and investors later on.

In Nigeria, the way Feminist Coalition 2020 raised and disbursed money during the #EndSARS protests showed that women over here could deploy the American strategy for female politicians in Nigeria.

We must applaud the ElectHer movement, a progressive women’s political advancement organization in Nigeria. In March 2021, ElectHer launched its Agenda35 campaign unveiling its $10 million campaign fund with $2 million secured to support 35 women to run for offices in 2023. While this is commendable effort and a great start, we must not rest at this junction.

Infact, to record greater success, aspiring women leaders in Nigeria must priorities data gathering. People need to know how Nigerian’s vote, and who they want to vote. It is time to change the narrative. Women must resist being relegated to the back and must take the higher political success through strategies that are sustainable. They must resist being used as political tools by their male counterparts. They need to see through the charade and reject empty promises and paltry gifts of male political machinery and support their fellow womenfolk in order to achieve gender balance and equity in the society. Men need to support the cause of women. In less than two years from now, President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration will end. The question is, would women be among the gladiators fighting to save our democracy?

Hamzat Lawal is a #HeForShe advocate, and activist that leads grassroots campaigns across Africa. He is the Founder of Connected Development [CODE] and Follow The Money.

One of our FollowTheMoney investigative journalists, Emmanuel Ujiadughele, was awarded the Best Reporter by the Nigerian Union of Journalists in Osun State, for uncovering the rot in the State’s Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) after Follow The Money investigated the condition of Nigerian PHCs to combat the #COVID19 virus and Government’s level of responsiveness to healthcare services during the pandemic.

In Osun State, the Follow The Money team observed that six primary healthcare centres were in terrible conditions, revealing that 2 of the 6 Primary Health Centres could not access electricity. Medical practitioners were subjected to the use of candles and torches to provide illumination. Surprisingly, these two primary healthcares were revitalized by the Osun State Government through the Save One million Lives Project funded by the World Health Organisation.

Primary Health Centres are supposed to provide basic quality healthcare service to average citizens. In Nigeria, many are in deplorable states and often unable to provide basic medical care to community members. Poor facilities, inadequate staffing and outdated drugs have led to careless and needless loss of lives. Highly suspicious patients have had to travel long distances to the city for proper medical attention.

Concerned by the condition of the PHCs, Follow The Money and BudgIT set out to track the state of Primary Health Centres in fifteen states – Cross River, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Abia, Anambra, Imo, Ebonyi, Benue, Kogi, Nasarawa, Plateau, Kebbi and Osun.

FTM investigative journalist, Emmanuel Ujiadughele, sighted the document containing the anomalies of the tracked PHCs and immediately showed interest in investigating the state of these healthcare facilities. Emmanuel visited the centres as an undercover journalist and witnessed how these healthcare centres, even though revitalized, delivered babies using torch torches and candles because they could not access electricity. Health workers in many PHCs either depend on rainwater because there is no power to pump water from the borehole or search for water in the wells in the community. 

Emmanuel Ujiadughele – a reporter of Rave 91.7FM in Osun published an exclusive report on the rising menace. The state government initially denied the possibility of the injustices detailed in the report, however, glaring evidence on the deplorable state of Atiba and Okinni Primary Health Centres, staff shortage and how the health centres were cut off the national grid, circulated the news. Following this exposure, brand new power generators were supplied to the Atiba and Okinni Primary Health Centres, a few weeks later. 

On the occasion of the 2021 Osun Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Week, Emmanuel Ujiadughele received the award of the Best Reporter as a result of his special report on the state of the Primary Health Centres in Osun State.

The award winning journalist thanked the Connected Development (CODE) and Urban Alert for their relentless efforts to bring change to our society. “I look forward to more collaborations that will put pressure on the government and its agencies to fulfill their promises”, Emmanuel said.

By Anne Nwakalor

“Hi Annie, how are you?” These are the words that I got used to hearing for almost 2 years and to think that I will never hear these words again makes me feel sick to my core. Alfredo, my right hand man, I could always count on him whenever I needed help or clarification on something. “Well done Annie” he would tell me reassuringly even when I know that I did a terrible job, he was always encouraging me, even when he would correct my work, he would say, ‘but well done Annie” as a closing sentence.

Alfred was an amazing human being, a great colleague, a great friend and a great guy. I rated him the most fashionable guy in CODE! He used to wear this super funky red bowler hat and had this one grey Kaftan with silver buttons and a silver chain, it looked super cool! I would always complement his fashion sense and his cool trainers. Alfred, we could always count on him to get things done! He did not work at CODE for the money, he worked at CODE because he sincerely believed in good governance and wanted to fight to see Nigeria change. Sometimes I would mock his belief in the system, but he stood firm in his conviction and desire for a transparent and accountable government.

“Alfred, do you always have to tell people to ‘come and join you’ when you are eating”, “Annie, if I dont invite people to take some of my food, I won’t enjoy it”. Alfred would always share his food with people, sometimes I would insist that he should eat by himself but he would refuse. He loved sharing and he loved taking other people’s food. Alfred, funny guy, great guy.

“Guys, where is Alfred?” This is probably one of the most frequently asked questions that I would ask my colleagues. Alfred would come late to teams meeting, he would come late to gatherings, he would come late to parties, my goodness, and when he would try to come early to something he would end up forgetting an important item, like his suitcase to travel or his laptop to do his works *puts palm on face*. But one thing is for sure, when Alfred was around, you knew it, he was the life of the party, the workplace, the gathering, the everything. Alfredo, the first person I went on radio with, I still remember, I was so nervous but Alfred kept on reassuring me that there was nothing to be nervous about. Alfred, the first person that I celebrated with when I made a communications plan that I was proud of, “Wow Annie, nice well done”. 

Alfred, I personally will miss you. I don’t think you knew how much you were loved, I don’t think you knew how much people cared about you, how much I cared about you. I did not lose a colleague, I’ve lost a friend, a great guy. Honestly Alfred, I don’t understand, I will never understand, Alfred, you had dreams, you had aspirations, you had plans, this was not the plan Alfred, this was not the plan! You have people who love and care about you, why did you have to go like this? I will never understand, but one thing I know for sure is that you lived a great life, you enjoyed life to the fullest, and you’ve left a legacy and a trail of people who love you and who always will. 

Adieu my colleague, Adieu my friend, Adieu dear Alfred. 

By Lucy James Abagi

With the trend of diverse social issues plaguing the world, the development sector has witnessed  a steady rise of innovations including research and program designs. Existing organisations are looking for global solutions that are fundable and scalable for a diverse stream of donors whilst start-ups are struggling to match their innovations and ideas to a result-oriented framework which would attract big donors to support their grassroot efforts. International organisations and the donor community are seeking solutions that are people driven notwithstanding the area of available funding as sustainability is at the root of every funding ecosystem. 

After years of studying the donor ecosystem, framework, interest and program design, I thought to share some few guidelines that will support start-up organisations in accessing funding for their innovation and keeping investors satisfied.

Are you salivating yet? Let’s start with this key point – ‘Grant money is not free money!’

There are incredibly huge responsibilities that come with donor funds, and the need to sustain the relationships. As a startup, you must be deliberate and intentional in your approach, just as you must equally keep a business mindset. Of course, all donors are business investors with stern requirements to ensure every penny translates to sustainable, tangible impacts.

Now, let’s break down the process.

Conceptualization Level

The magic of resource mobilization rests solely on the power of ideation. The bulk of the work starts in reframing our thought process and thinking through different strategies that lead to a successful proposal. The thinking process, although very demanding, provides the pathway to synchronise an idea in line with the donor’s interest, mission, vision and resources. Personally, it takes me two – three weeks to conceptualize an idea. A lot of time needs to be invested into research, analysis and information gathering, as this helps answer the following questions about the problem you seek a solution for: “Is it a Novel, doable and affordable idea?” To answer this question, indepth research in line with your area of interest will further uncover diverse interventions carried out in your field and this will help mainstream your idea, identify gaps and provide a basement for your ideas to be adopted as an innovation amongst other existing platforms. 

The Big Question- Who can fund my idea?

This takes you into another aspect of research where you would need to answer some more questions around the available donors and fundings that tie to your ideas and scope. At this stage you also need to be sure that your idea can actually be funded by a specifically identified donor. Remember that, at the  conceptualization level, you should have been able to answer these questions: how much do I need for my idea? How much will my idea cost or what are the cost implications of my idea?  

When you answer these questions at the conceptualization level, you will  be able to identify funding ecosystems and donors that have the available resources that you need for your idea.  It is important to note that you may not get the total amount of money that you need for the execution of your ideas so you may need to break down your ideas into stages or phases based on available funding.   

Moreover, from my experience, most donors, especially if they have not worked with you before, would want to ensure that their risk analysis is within a controllable level. Hence, they may not fund a new or start-up organisation above $50,000-$100,000.  Every donor would want to be sure that they are putting their money in the right place with systems and strategies that can manage their resources to achieve expected outcomes or results.  Fundings received from any donor must be accounted for, as you are expected to show some level of transparency and accountability  in the utilisation of every penny received and spent. 

The Pencil Stage

Nothing is as frustrating as having a great idea but being deadpan when it comes to articulating it on paper – to attract funding. The act of writing a winning proposal comes with a clearly set up design that will stimulate the reader to fully assimilate and capture the idea of the writer and vividly understand laid out steps in achieving the result. 

I have witnessed good thinkers and speakers who can barely interpret their thoughts into a readable and clear format. Here is a quick look at the composition of my proposal team at Connected Development. Busayo Morakinyo (BOM), is my thinking partner, great thinker and public speaker who possesses good ideation and presentation skills. BOM helps to frame our thought process and present a short pitch of this idea to prospective donors. 

Kingsley Agu, comes with clear project implementation skills, he supervises the first draft of every proposal, giving a clear direction on the required steps to achieving the project goals. Other team members would always contribute in co-drafting, brainstorming, reviewing and setting the proposal in motion. 

Hamzat Lawal- Hamzy- is our partnership and network guru. Hamzy’s role demands using his network to ensure these ideas are presented and submitted to identified donors.  I am citing this here to paint the picture that a winning proposal demands teamwork. You need to build a composition of team members with multiple skills that will aid the smooth delivery of the proposal. Always keep in mind that a successful grant proposal is one that is carefully prepared, planned, and packaged. 

In my next series, I will go deeper into the act of proposal writing. I encourage  you to sign up for my class on Grant and Proposal Writing, as I will share more tips on writing a winning proposal.

by Hamzat Lawal

I have been asked, many times, what  makes Connected Development (CODE) and Follow The Money (FTM) thrive so well. My answer has never been ambivalent; People. At the centre of our work, are the passionate people who drive the campaigns, coupled with the digital space. Simply put, the marriage of technology and people birthed the revolution and success of FollowTheMoney and CODE, I just happened to be in the middle of the dynamics.

Now that our mission has expanded beyond the shores of Nigeria, it is easy to see the fundamental role played by digital technologies in harnessing the vast potentials of young people across the world, as they commit their talents towards advancing their communities by holding governments to account. Hence, our line of work at CODE requires painstaking analysis and cross-border innovations. The ever-evolving social media space and highly volatile multimedia models are our allies. We depend on them to keep marching forward.

However, we rely more on key human talents to coordinate these efforts. These skilled humans of CODE, navigate through the morass of progress reports and present them in a way that portray development details and resonate with our teeming volunteers, partners and wider public. This is why our social media posts and monthly newsletters have never failed to evoke the tenacity of our vision and the gravity of our projects, in Africa and beyond.

It is therefore instructive to note that someone was behind the curtain, on the keyboards, pushing out our labors in words and pictures. A young man whose heart burnt with an unquenchable fire for societal change, followed us day and night, as we “Follow The Money”, so that the world could keep tabs on what we were doing at every turn of the road. A man who was creative, clear and concise in all our communication materials. A man who made it possible for CODE to maintain a resounding presence in the digital space, where it all began. 

Dear partners, supporters, friends and citizens, with extreme sadness, I announce that the gentle man who manned our online presence, Alfred Anicho Oji, CODE’s digital media officer, passed away on Friday, 22^nd October, 2021. This came as a rude shock to all of us at CODE.

Alfred was dedicated and committed to the work of advocating for improved public services in Nigeria, Africa and beyond. He was someone who, in every way possible, embodied CODE’s values and principles of justice, social accountability and empowering marginalized grassroots people. He was a committed development worker who held together our social media assets and consistently grew CODE and FTM’s online community simultaneously – showcasing our work and impact to local and international audiences.

Alfred was good-humored, friendly and, simply, a warm person to be around. His death was unimaginable and we will miss him sorely. We mourn this egregious loss of a fellow comrade in the fight for human rights and a fair world.

On a personal note, I can say that Alfred was not just a staff of CODE; he was a remarkable colleague, a trusted fellow and a perfect gentleman. He was dedicated to his job, and friendly to everyone. He was supportive, and vividly carried the vision of CODE. Indeed, I have lost a comrade in the struggle.

Alfred lived a full life. He gave himself completely to the cause he believed in. Thinking back now, it was as if he was in a hurry to finish his assignment before leaving. He was a hard worker. This was evident in his work etiquette. We saw that whenever the CODE team was on a field trip; he followed us virtually – in order to get the best stories for our digital platforms. In fact, his professional tenacity inspired everyone to be more productive.

Certainly, even to the last hour, there was a sense of urgency in his push for excellence and delivery. I remember that a day before he passed, Alfred shared his thoughts on the EndSARS protests anniversary. My personal photographer, Jide Ojediran, made the video. Jide said that he had wanted to make the recording the next Monday, but Alfred insisted that the video be made that Thursday. He was gone the next day. Thankfully, we now have Alfred’s three-minute perspective on police brutality in Nigeria. Obviously, here was a man that wanted to change the world, and make it a better place, with the little time he had.

He was a calm, content man who hardly got angry. For Alfred, CODE was a family. He recently brought his fiancée whom he was just about to wed to the office; apparently to introduce her to his second home. I remember the warm moments I had with the promising couple. My heart now bleeds at the pain his fiancée is presently going through at losing such a wonderful soulmate.

I remember when we traveled to Osun for our colleague, Busayo Morankinyo’s traditional and white wedding, and how we played, joked and made fun of life. Alfred insisted he became my “orderly” for the occasion – opening doors for me, and calling me “Boss”. I never knew it was the last CODE-play to feature our indefatigable brotherly comrade, Alfred. Oh, what a life!

That fateful Friday was the darkest of days for me, when I received a call that Alfred was no more. Even more painful, when I was told that as the CEO, I was the one to make the call to his family. It was one of the toughest moments of my human existence. I had yet to adjust to the shock, and was told that I was to be the bearer of the same bad news.

In all, I am profoundly encouraged to have worked with a young man like Alfred. He embodied what the quintessential Nigerian youth should be: Hope for a New Nigeria, dedication to work, family and colleagues. The phrase “fierce dedication to what is right” defines the way Alfred lived his life. And I am proud that I was part of that short but glorious sojourn.

He certainly made the world a better place. And his memory means a lot to CODE. Although his physical presence is gone, the lessons he taught us will strengthen our lives and our digital space for many years to come.

Alfred, with your death, I have learnt more lessons about life. Our time here on earth is brief and what always counts and matters is how we lived – the lives we touched and the difference we made in our society. You were very brilliant and very selfless. You believed so much in Nigeria and your work is evident of how much good you wished for our dear country, and how much better you would have made her, if you had the time. Like our heroes’ past, may your death not be in vain. I will miss your tenacious dedication to service. Till we meet again, Adieu, my friend and brother!

Hamzat Lawal is an activist and leads various grassroots campaigns across Africa. He is the Founder of Connected Development [CODE] and Follow The Money. 

Defining leadership in the 21st century is easy but can also be conceptually complex. In this digital era, as the world shifts to espouse a digital economy, the characteristics of leadership have transitioned from controlling, directing and organizing to influence, but not just simply – It has now become expedient for today’s leaders to operate beyond management and become an embodiment of a unique vision that is implanted in their followers or team members in order to achieve a goal or a greater good.

Growing up, we read about leaders like Julius Caesar, Mahatma Gandhi, Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandella, who led their people to victory in either war or non-violent protests. In fact, history records their feat as the utmost symbol of leadership. But as society evolves, a new crop of leaders are emerging and their legacy isn’t being built on just their ability to stand or speak against oppression or injustice but in creating institutions and influencing a generation of people to improve society. 

Leadership is no longer about occupying an executive office, a true leader is one who deposits or brings to life the leadership capacity in every individual he meets (even virtually).

A young activist that clearly exudes these progressive qualities of leadership is Hamzat Lawal. He founded Connected Development (CODE), from a place of distress and discomfort for injustices happening to marginalised people in remote communities. Through CODE, Lawal has led advocacies and government’s actions towards providing timely intervention to these deprived communities in the areas of healthcare provision to reduce needless deaths and maternal mortality; education infrastructure to ensure more children in these regions are able to learn and have access to future opportunities; provision of water and sanitation services.

As CODE intensified its work in rebuilding society, Lawal developed a unique socio-digital accountability initiative called Follow The Money(FTM). Through FTM, over eight thousand young Africans tagged community champions have been empowered to demand and drive accountability and transparency in governance in hundreds of communities across the continent.

With FTM, Lawal kindled young social activists across Nigeria and Africa to become active citizens who are invested in good governance and accountability in order to ensure public money is used for public good. 

In 2020 alone, despite the COVID pandemic, these ‘new-born’ activists visited over 250 communities, inspected and monitored the implementation of projects, created online and offline campaigns to demand better from the government and impacted over four million lives. 

By influencing a new generation of activists who are demanding better from governments in Africa and impacting lives of people living in the most marginalized communities, Lawal is demonstrating qualities of a Global Citizen – which in today’s context is the prime definition of leadership.

With a mission to build a movement of 100 million people to end extreme poverty by 2030, Global Citizen is developing a community of leaders like Lawal, who can use their voices and work to address deep-rooted causes and combat systemic poverty across the globe.

To achieve its mission in Africa, the organization recently launched its 2021 fellowship program powered by pop star Beyoncé Knowles (BeyGood) and funded by top American filmmaker Tyler Perry. The program is set to empower 15 Africans, including five Nigerians with network and resources to become global leaders.

As part of fulfilling its objectives, Global Citizen selected eight individuals to serve as advisory council board members, all providing support for fellows and the fellowship program.

Lawal, widely known as the anti-corruption activist, was selected to work as an adviser in the area of citizenship. The year-long program will provide the opportunity for Lawal to once again partake in the moulding of young future leaders.

His role will include spearheading special projects and providing mentorship and guidance for fellows. He will work alongside other influential African youth leaders such as: Aisha Yesufu, Bonang Matheba, Charmaine Houvet and Nozipho Tshabalala, to mention only a few. 

As the progenitor of socio-digital accountability in Nigeria gears up to impact the lives of young, global leaders, his contributions towards fostering transparency in governance has earned him recognition as one of the Ten Outstanding Young Persons in Nigeria for the year 2021. 

Organized by the Junior Chamber International (JCI) the award features change-makers from various sectors who have not only excelled in the work and created positive impact, but also blazed the trail for socially responsible leaders all around the world. 

Lawal will be getting awarded for his strides in the political, legal and government sphere. Beyond fruitful legacies, notable awards and recognitions, the path of the grassroot campaigner and activist shines forth as a beacon for all those who desire a better-developed continent and works toward creating the change they so desire. 

In the words of John Maxwell, “the growth and development of people is the highest calling of leadership.”

Focusing on the E-WASH program broader objectives of “strengthening policy, institutional, and regulatory frameworks for improved WASH services; and building a national and state WASH advocacy, coordination, and communications for reform,” The Effective Water, Sanitation and Hygiene Services (E-WASH ) program is a one year (1) program funded by the United States Agency for International Development with the goal of Improving Nigeria-Urban WASH Service Delivery.

The USAID E-WASH program sought to “support civic advocacy and WASH stakeholder engagement, coordinate with government and other WASH service providers (including private sector) to improve urban WASH service delivery.” Similarly, the project mobilised all relevant stakeholders at the state level on E-WASH service delivery and created platforms for engagement between the government and civil society. As such, focusing on Niger, Delta, and Taraba States, CODE leveraged on its citizen mobilization and multidimensional engagement expertise, resources, and strategies; presence and network in the aforementioned states. It also leveraged WASH accountability capacity; as well as its social accountability innovation, Follow The Money, to broaden collaborations between relevant government agencies, State Water Boards (SWB), lawmakers, community-based associations/organizations (CBA/O), Water Consumer Associations, Media and the general public to expand and improve urban water service delivery.

This report provides key activities undertaken as well as the outputs and foreseeable outcomes from them. In the months, CODE visited three (3) states- Niger, Taraba, and Delta States.

Download the Close Out Report and view successes recorded during the project implementation phase.