By Maryam Aminu
In a symbolic gesture to mark Children’s Day, Hamzat B. Lawal, Chief Executive of Connected Development (CODE), temporarily stepped down from his role to allow 13-year-old Esther Chinemerem Ezeifeka to lead the organization as one-day CEO.
The initiative, according to Lawal, is aimed at inspiring the next generation of leaders by giving them early exposure to leadership responsibilities.
“Today, we don’t just celebrate children we empower them to lead, to dream, and to shape the future,” Lawal said during the handover ceremony.
Lawal used the opportunity to highlight Nigeria’s ongoing education crisis, pointing to the nearly 20 million children currently out of school. “This is totally unacceptable. We all have a role to play in reversing this trend, especially by working closely with traditional and religious institutions, parents, and teachers,” he said.
He cited progress from his three-year campaign in Adamawa State, where early child marriage and child street hawking have reportedly declined, as proof that community-driven initiatives can yield measurable results.
Hamzat B. Lawal is widely recognized for pioneering the Follow The Money initiative, a citizen-led movement that tracks government spending and ensures transparency and accountability. Under his leadership, CODE has become one of Africa’s leading civil society organizations focused on social accountability, good governance, and grassroots empowerment.
Beyond structural reform, Lawal has championed youth inclusion and innovation as tools for development. His commitment to closing Nigeria’s education gap especially for girls has drawn support from global partners including Oxfam and the Malala Fund. “If we don’t take care of out-of-school children today, they will ensure we have sleepless nights tomorrow,” he said, reinforcing the urgency of the mission.
As the one-day CEO, Esther Ezeifeka delivered a passionate speech titled “Enhancing the Total Wellbeing of Children Through Quality Education and Skill Development.”
She emphasized that children must be seen as active participants in the nation’s present and future.
“Children are not just the future we are the present,” Esther said. “Across Nigeria, many children still lack access to quality education or the skills needed to thrive in today’s world.”
Esther spotlighted ongoing efforts by Connected Development to address these challenges. Through the Power of Voices Partnership (PVP) supported by Oxfam in Nigeria, the organization has established nearly 200 civic clubs across six states to promote environmental sustainability and youth civic engagement.
The one day CEO also noted the impact of the Girl-Child Education Project (GEP) in Bauchi State, supported by the Malala Fund, which addresses barriers to girls’ education such as poverty, harmful gender norms, and lack of accountability in education spending.
“Skill development is just as essential as academic learning,” she said. “Whether it’s coding, speaking confidently, or running a small business, skills give us the power to break cycles of poverty and build the future we deserve.”
Esther called on government leaders, communities, and development partners to invest in the full wellbeing of children including mental health, safety, and opportunities for growth.
“When we invest in children, we’re not just preparing for the future we’re building it right now,” she added.
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