By Abbas Jimoh
The Connected Development (CODE) has said that its Acting Chief Executive Officer, Ms 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).
Spokesman of the CODE Mr Nankpak Cirfat on Wednesday in Abuja said that Mshelia emerged among 24 outstanding advocates across Africa and Asia, chosen from a highly competitive pool of 618 applicants worldwide.
“This recognition further affirms CODE’s leadership in advancing health sector accountability and amplifying citizen voices in Nigeria and beyond. The Advocacy Accelerator Program arrives at a very important time in the global health funding landscape, where low- and middle-income countries are facing increasing pressure to mobilize sustainable domestic budget resources for health.
“With funding and mentorship from GHAI and support from Resolve to Save Lives, the program will equip advocates with strategic tools to strengthen budget advocacy for non-communicable diseases (NCDs), including tobacco control, mental health, cardiovascular health, road safety, and drowning prevention.
Collectively, these issues claim over 43 million lives annually, yet receive only 1–2% of global health funding,” Cirfat said.
He said that through this program, CODE will be positioned to scale its advocacy for increased and sustained domestic budget allocation to Nigeria’s health sector, ensuring the country is better prepared to respond to health emergencies and prevent avoidable deaths.
Accoding to him, over the years, CODE has championed groundbreaking campaigns like the COVID-19 Transparency and Accountability Project (CTAP), consistently demanding improved investments and accountability in Nigeria’s health sector.
This new opportunity with GHAI’s Advocacy Accelerator Program, Cirfat said, represents another milestone in CODE’s mission to drive inclusive, transparent, and sustainable health policies.
Responding, Ms Mshelia said, “What excites me most about this accelerator is the opportunity to sharpen my skills and those of CODE in advancing budget advocacy, especially learning how better to translate technical fiscal data into compelling, people-centered narratives while leveraging this opportunity to scale our advocacy and push for improved service delivery in Nigeria’s health sector.”
Also selected for the programme is CODE’s Program Officer, Abdulazeez Hussaini.
Cirfat said their joint participation underscores CODE’s continued commitment to empowering marginalized communities and pushing for stronger investments in health systems across Nigeria and Africa.
