Hyeladzira Mshelia James Emerges CODE CEO As Hamzat Steps Aside
…Hamzat Begins UK Master’s Programme As Chevening Scholar
…Mshelia Pledges To Amplify Grassroots Voices
Connected Development (CODE), Africa’s leading social accountability organisation, has announced the appointment of Hyeladzira James Mshelia as Acting Chief Executive Officer following the decision of Hamzat Lawal, its founder and outgoing CEO, to step aside.
The transition, unveiled at a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday, also saw Mukhtar Halilu Modibbo appointed Secretary-General of Follow The Money, a grassroots accountability initiative under CODE.
Lawal, who led CODE for 13 years, is temporarily stepping aside to pursue a Master’s degree in Governance, Development, and Public Policy at the University of Sussex, United Kingdom, as a 2025 Chevening Scholar.
“Every great movement must evolve, and leadership is about building successors who will carry the torch forward. So, as I temporarily step away to embark on this academic journey, it has become essential to appoint strong leadership to steer the organization forward.
“Thirteen years have passed, but our journey is only just beginning. And as I look to the next decade, I do so with humility, hope, and an unshakable belief in the power of people, whom I’ve now entrusted this vision into their hands,” Lawal said at a press briefing and handing over ceremony.
Mshelia, who previously served as CODE’s Assistant Director of Programmes and Community Engagement, pledged to consolidate the gains of her predecessor while amplifying grassroots impact.
“One strategy we will harness is teamwork. We’ll continue to empower marginalized people, work with the grassroots, work with the government, and most importantly with the media, to ensure that the burning issues of Nigerians are brought to the front burner,” said Mshelia.
She highlighted ongoing projects, including the Girls’ Education Initiative in Bauchi, the Fair for All Partnership across six states, and efforts to mainstream gender into CODE’s campaigns.
“We must ensure that the voices of marginalized people are positioned and valued,” Mshelia added.
With extensive experience in programmatic design and implementation, Mshelia has led strategic campaigns around gender equality, girl-child education, environmental sustainability, and WASH advocacy across Africa.
She is part of the Climate Reality Leadership Corps and a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum’s Abuja Hub, where she co-chairs the Abuja Dialogue Series on policy engagement.
An advocate for environmental sustainability, she spearheads Nigeria’s annual Earth Hour campaign and has consulted for Plan International on USAID’s E-WASH project.
Her advocacy has also been featured on platforms including OXFAM’s Wall of Voices and World News Today.
Lawal’s temporary exit came about two months after President Bola Tinubu conferred on him the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR) for his contributions to transparency, accountability, and grassroots activism.
He founded CODE in 2012 following a lead poisoning tragedy in Bagega, Zamfara State.
His findings propelled him towards community activism and to start the grass-roots movement now known as Follow The Money.
The initiative has grown into Africa’s largest social accountability movement which compels government action on neglected communities and winning international recognition.
Hyeladzira Mshelia James Emerges CODE CEO As Hamzat Steps Aside is first published on The Whistler Newspaper
