Connected Development [CODE]

Connected Development mourns the passing of Saleh Shehu Ashaka @AshakaSaleh, a veteran journalist, trusted partner, and a man who dedicated his life to seeking and speaking the truth. Saleh dedicated his voice to the voiceless and his pen to justice. He was more than just an associate of CODE; he was part of our story. His integrity, loyalty, and commitment to a better Nigeria will never be forgotten. To his family, friends, and everyone who knew him: may Allah (SWT) grant him Al-Jannah Firdaus and give you the Sabr to bear this loss. 🤲🏾 Inna lillahi wa inna ilayhi raji’un. 📄 Read our full statement here 👇

₦144.8 billion was committed to safe schools between 2023 and 2026. The schools are still closed. The girls are still at home. Ask your representative one question: where is this money going, and why are the gates still locked? 3/3🧵 #FollowTheMoney #GirlsEducation #SafeSchools #Accountability

The government’s answer is the National Safe Schools Response and Coordination Centre. It received zero budget allocation in 2024. Zero again in 2025. A programme exists. It just doesn’t reach the children it was designed for. The children disappear from headlines long before they disappear from classrooms. 2/3🧵 #DevelopmentBlindSpot

This week on The Development Blindspot… In Nigeria’s most insecure regions, a girl’s greatest threat isn’t poverty or distance. It’s whether her school will still exist tomorrow. 20,468 schools closed indefinitely across seven northern states. 48% of Nigeria’s out-of-school girls are from just two regions. 1/3🧵 #DevelopmentBlindSpot

The CODE 2025 Annual Report is now live, highlighting a year of real progress across communities, systems, and sectors. From tracking public resources to amplifying citizen voices, this is what accountability looks like in action. As noted by Acting Chief Executive, Hyeladzira Mshelia, “This report is not a ceremonial update, it is a call to action.” It underscores the urgency of strengthening institutional coordination and closing persistent gaps in governance and public financial systems. 📥 Download: connecteddevelopment.org/2025-annual-re… #Accountability #Transparency #Nigeria

Dear Nigerian Worker, You self try, no be small thing o. With everything wey dey happen, you still show up, hold your side, and dey make this kontri better. Well done. More grease to your elbow! From all of us at Connected Development, Happy Workers’ Day 🎉🇳🇬 #WorkersDay #NigerianWorkers

Happy Birthday to our Program Officer, Ogbonna Amarachi! 🎉 Your dedication to driving impactful programs and strengthening accountability continues to inspire our work at CODE. Wishing you a year of growth, success, and even greater impact. 💐 #TeamAwesome #PeopleOfCODE

We are proud to officially unveil the Digital Mobilization Lab (DML) Cohort 2 Fellows. At a time when young people are highly active in digital spaces yet remain underrepresented in governance, the Digital Mobilization Lab (DML) by Connected Development [CODE] is intentionally designed to bridge the gap between digital expression and real civic action. Selected from across Nigeria, each fellow brings a unique story of resilience, curiosity, and a deep commitment to driving change. From communities where voices are often unheard, they are stepping forward to amplify conversations that matter and influence outcomes that shape lives. For 12 weeks, they will be learning, unlearning, and building transforming digital tools into instruments of accountability, and ideas into tangible community impact. More than a fellowship, this I s a growing network of young leaders redefining civic engagement in Nigeria. And this is only the beginning. #DMLFellowship #YouthInGovernance #DigitalAdvocacy #SocialImpact

What if the rules governing our digital future were written without you? Connected Development [CODE] participated in the Global Partnership for Human-Centric ICT Standardization (GIST) Introductory Stakeholder Engagement and Regional Validation Roundtable, and the conversation couldn’t be more relevant to the work we do. Represented by Ijeoma Uyamadu, the session critically explored how shared digital standards can drive a technology ecosystem that is green, inclusive, and truly people-centred, both in Nigeria and across borders. As a civil society organisation, our role is to make sure these standards are not written only in boardrooms and laboratories. They must be clear, fair, and grounded in the realities of everyday people and communities. Digital governance only works when the people it affects have a seat at the table. #ConnectedDevelopment #GIST #DigitalInclusion #ICTStandards

There are those who study the law, and then there are those who live it, Nnanna Oketa, LL.M, MBA belongs to the latter. Your appointment as the Head of Legal and Company Secretary, South East Development Commission (SEDC) is a testament to years of quiet brilliance, principled leadership, and an unwavering commitment to doing things the right way. You’ve been more than a Legal Adviser to Connected Development in the last few years, and seeing you take on this mantle at the SEDC feels like a win for all of us who believe in a better Nigeria. You’ve always been a brother in the cause and have always treated the law not just as a set of rules, but as a tool for justice and institutional integrity. The South East Development Commission hasn't just gained a brilliant legal mind, they’ve gained a guardian of governance. I have no doubt that the same rigour and passion you brought to holding power accountable will now help build a lasting legacy for the region. Onward my friend, and congratulations on this stellar new chapter🎉👏

As part of Connected Development [CODE]’s capstone project #HeathShield for the @IncubatorGHAI , leveraging the @4lowthemoney (FTM) initiative, we conducted a subnational assessment of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF 2.0) in Adamawa State. Through Focus Group Discussions, high-level advocacy visits, and multi-stakeholder capacity sessions, we facilitated conversations that uncovered the realities of BHCPF implementation across the state. These engagements highlighted important gaps in funding transparency, community awareness, and accountability systems. The assessment also generated evidence that strengthens advocacy, informs policy dialogue, and amplifies the community’s voice and thereby remaining a central part of our work, ensuring that health financing is not only tracked but works for the people it is meant to serve. #TrackBHCPF #EpidemicPreparedness #HealthSmmecurity #GHAI #AdvocacyAccelerator

Seats are limited. Kindly register to attend: eventbrite.com/e/leading-comm…

Connected Development [CODE] is pleased to invite you to the official launch of our 2025 Annual Report and the unveiling of a new cohort of the Digital Mobilization Lab (DML) Fellowship. Under the theme “Leading Communities to Transparent Action,” this convening represents a significant milestone in advancing citizen-led governance, strengthening accountability systems, and promoting inclusive development across Nigeria and Africa. 📅 Thursday, April 30, 2026 🕙 10:00 AM 📍 CODE Office, 3rd Floor, Wing F, Bassan Plaza, Central Business District, Abuja We look forward to engaging with stakeholders, partners, and accountability champions. #CODE #FollowTheMoney #AnnualReport2025 #SocialAccountability #Governance

Nigeria’s economy grew in 2024. That same year, 20 million more Nigerians fell into poverty. The rate jumped from 49% to 56% in a single year. Both things are true. Simultaneously. That is this week’s blind spot. 1/3🧵 #DevelopmentBlindSpot

Next time an official quotes GDP growth, ask one question: “Growth for whom? What is the poverty rate in my state?” because GDP is not a development indicator. Poverty is. Hold them to the right number. 3/3🧵 #DevelopmentBlindSpot #NigeriaEconomy #Accountability

Nigeria’s growth lives in finance, telecoms, and entertainment, almost entirely in Lagos and Abuja. It does not reach the rural wards. It does not travel to where most Nigerians actually live. The economy grows. Just not for everyone. 2/3🧵 #DevelopmentBlindSpot

The verdict is out. Last Thursday, the #FairFinanceNigeria Coalition exposed a massive disclosure gap in our banking sector. Top banks averaged a critically low 1.7/10 on global ESG standards. It’s time to end "tick-box" compliance. #FinanceIsNotNeutral 1/3