After 13 years at the helm of Connected Development (CODE), founder and Chief Executive Hamzat Lawal has stepped down from day-to-day leadership to pursue advanced studies in the United Kingdom.
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Lawal announced his departure during a press briefing at the organisation’s office yesterday, revealing his acceptance as a 2025 Chevening Scholar to study Master’s in Governance, Development, and Public Policy at the University of Sussex. The scholarship is supported by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO).
“This wasn’t an easy decision, but it means I no longer oversee day-to-day leadership of the organisation,” Lawal posted on his LinkedIn page, explaining that the move will allow him to focus on his academic pursuits with the generous support from the British government’s prestigious scholarship programme.
CODE also announced new executive appointments to maintain organisational continuity. Hyeladzira James Mshelia has been appointed Acting Chief Executive of Connected Development, while Mukhtar Halilu Modibbo takes on the role of Secretary-General of FollowTheMoney, the organisation’s Pan-African grassroots data-driven movement.
During the press briefing, Lawal stressed the importance of succession planning in sustainable organisations. “Every great movement must evolve, and leadership is about building successors who will carry the torch forward,” he stated. “So, as I temporarily step away to embark on this academic journey, it has become essential to appoint strong leadership to steer the organisation forward.”
Lawal’s leadership became a significant force in African grassroots advocacy. The organisation has conducted campaigns across over 40 African countries, focusing on climate change, open data, advocacy campaigns, and development policies affecting rural and deprived grassroots communities.
The activist has built a reputation specialising in practical issues associated with climate change and promoting accountability in public fund utilisation across specific African communities. His work has particularly focused on amplifying the voices of marginalised communities through technology and innovation-driven campaigns.
Under Lawal’s leadership, Connected Development achieved notable recognition, winning the ONE Africa 2016 Award, which recognises and advances exceptional work by Africa-based organisations dedicated to helping the continent achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Beyond his role at CODE, Lawal serves on the Executive Board of the African Youth Initiative on Climate Change (AYICC), described as the largest youth movement in Africa, where he advises on communications strategies and campaigns using technology tools to shape and actualise the SDGs.
His advocacy work extends to various policy-influencing coalitions across Africa, including the Not Too Young To Run movement, which drives youth political inclusion across the continent. Before founding Connected Development, he worked as an executive with the International Centre for Energy, Environment and Development (ICEED), focusing on high-level advocacy for Nigeria’s energy needs and climate actions.
International recognition of Lawal’s work came in 2018 when he was honoured on the list of the world’s 100 most influential people in digital government by Apolitical, a global network helping public servants find ideas, people, and partners to solve challenging societal problems.
FollowTheMoney, the Pan-African initiative Lawal founded alongside Connected Development, focuses on social accountability by tracking public fund utilisation and empowering communities with data-driven tools to demand transparency from their governments.
In an emotional closing statement during the press briefing, Lawal reflected on the organisation’s journey and future prospects. “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.”
The newly appointed leadership team responded with commitment to maintaining the organisation’s mission and vision. They assured Lawal that “this shared vision will not die in our hands! We will nurture it with the same passion and drive you’ve led the team with for the past 13 years until your return.”
Lawal’s academic pursuit at the University of Sussex is expected to enhance his expertise in governance and public policy, potentially strengthening his future contributions to African development discourse upon his return to active leadership roles.
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