By Chioma Favour
Abuja, Nigeria: Connected Development (CODE) has announced that its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Hyeladzira James Mshelia, has been selected to join the second cohort of the Advocacy Accelerator Program, an initiative of the Global Health Advocacy Incubator (GHAI).
This was contained in a statement Signed by Nankpak Cirfat Communications Officer- Media Relations
Connected Development (CODE)
According to the statement, Hyeladzira emerged among 24 outstanding advocates across Africa and Asia, chosen from a highly competitive pool of 618 applicants worldwide. His selection reinforces CODE’s growing influence in driving accountability in the health sector and amplifying citizen voices in Nigeria and beyond.
The Advocacy Accelerator Program comes at a crucial time, as low- and middle-income countries face mounting pressure to mobilize sustainable domestic resources for health. With mentorship and funding support from GHAI and Resolve to Save Lives, the program will equip participants with strategic tools for advancing budget advocacy on non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as tobacco control, cardiovascular health, mental health, road safety, and drowning prevention. Collectively, these issues claim more than 43 million lives annually, yet attract only 1–2% of global health funding.
Through this program, CODE will strengthen its campaigns for increased and sustained domestic health financing, ensuring Nigeria is better prepared to prevent avoidable deaths and respond to emergencies.
Over the years, CODE has spearheaded impactful initiatives, including the COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP), which demanded greater transparency and investment in Nigeria’s health sector. Hyeladzira’s participation in the accelerator marks another milestone in the organization’s mission to champion inclusive, transparent, and sustainable health policies.
“What excites me most about this accelerator is the opportunity to sharpen my skills and those of CODE in advancing budget advocacy particularly in translating technical fiscal data into compelling, people-centered narratives, while leveraging this platform to scale our advocacy for improved health service delivery in Nigeria,” said Hyeladzira James Mshelia, Acting CEO of CODE.
Also selected for the program is Abdulaziz Hussaini, CODE’s Program Officer. Their joint participation underscores CODE’s continued commitment to empowering marginalized communities and pushing for stronger investments in health systems across Nigeria and Africa.
