Maryam Aminu
Connected Development (CODE), Africa’s leading advocacy organisation for transparency and good governance, has officially launched its 2024 Annual Report titled “The Year of Active Citizen”, unveiling a trailblazing year of citizen-driven advocacy, community empowerment, and transformative policy impact across 12 African countries.
At the press briefing held today in Abuja, Hamzat Lawal, Chief Executive of CODE and Founder of the acclaimed Follow The Money initiative, presented a striking review of the past year marked by bold action and measurable progress in areas spanning climate justice, education, civic engagement, and anti-corruption campaigns.
“In 2024, we made giant strides mobilising citizens, confronting injustice, and demanding change,” Lawal declared. “Each campaign, each number, each community touched represents a story of progress and hope.”
With over 40 campaigns across 12 African countries, CODE hosted 57 town hall meetings, 40 community outreach events, and 30 specialized workshop empowering over 3,000 citizens in climate justice, education rights, and democratic accountability.
CODE tracked over ₦4 billion in public spending, conducting rigorous audits and grassroots engagements in 20 Nigerian communities while developing a year-long advocacy blueprint for Sierra Leone.
One of the year’s landmark achievements was the expansion of the Follow The Money initiative into Sierra Leone.
In Kano State, CODE’s Galvanizing Mass Action Against Gender-Based Violence campaign recorded a legislative victory with the successful passage of the Child Protection Bill, now in implementation stages with special attention to underserved rural communities.
The organisation’s education-focused advocacy, in partnership with the Malala Fund, led to the launch of the Girl-Child Education Project in Bauchi State confronting structural barriers to girls’ education and securing government commitments to increased education funding and teacher recruitment.
Simultaneously, CODE’s collaborations with USAID and the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) strengthened early literacy in Adamawa, Bauchi, and Sokoto, and introduced conditional cash transfers to encourage girls’ school attendance in 18 states.
CODE’s data-rich analysis of 553 schools and 784 primary healthcare centers in 520 communities across 34 states paints a troubling picture of Nigeria’s public infrastructure. Despite nearly ₦894 billion invested in education by state governments, challenges such as overcrowded classrooms, untrained teachers, and inadequate water and sanitation facilities persist.
Plateau State recorded an average of 280 students per class, far exceeding the national standard of 40. The North West follows with an average of 129 students per classroom, while the North East and North Central regions recorded 114 and 97 respectively.
While zones like North Central (58.9%) and South South (54.8%) saw higher female enrollment, the North East and North West continue to show male-dominated ratios.
Also over 50% of teachers in Sokoto and Zamfara have never received professional development training, and teacher absenteeism in several states is below 90%.
The report showed that only 20% of schools in Benue, 18% in Cross River, and a shocking 7% in Enugu have access to clean water. Shared toilet facilities between boys and girls remain prevalent in Kebbi and Ekiti, raising safety and hygiene concerns.
CODE’s 2024 Annual Report doesn’t just highlight gaps it offers a roadmap for progress.
Lawal called on government agencies, civil society, and international partners to move beyond budgetary allocations and focus on execution, infrastructure, and community-based solutions.
“We owe it to Nigeria’s future to transform billions of naira into real change into functional classrooms, safe toilets, trained teachers, and equal opportunities for every child,” he asserted.
With an unrelenting spirit, CODE affirms its mission to empower Africa’s most vulnerable through data, grassroots mobilisation, and legislative engagement. “We’re just getting started,” Lawal concluded. “The fight for justice, equity, and transparency continues and we invite every citizen to take an active role.”
Africa Security Investigation News 