Hamzat Lawal
Hamzat B. Lawal is a popular nigerian anti-corruption activist and also a jury member of 2024/2025 edition of Nelson mandela Graca Machel innovation Award. He is the founder of Follow The Money, a social accountability initiative that comprises data analysts, journalists, activists, and students
Quotes
[edit]- It is an honour to serve as a juror for such a powerful initiative... This is not just about awards—it’s about fueling hope and accelerating grassroots change.
- For me, I will still remain a strong voice for youths and young people because now I’m transitioning from being a youth to being a young person. I will be a strong voice for them, I will continue to create a platform for them and provide opportunities for them but I will also leave the space for them.
- For me, creating opportunities for young people is exiting the space and leaving it for them, not being there and saying I am an advocate for youth, no. Being an advocate for youth does not mean I have to take their space, and I think youths also need to learn that the older generation would not want to relinquish power or leave the space, you have to take it.
- So, I currently sit on over 17 boards both internationally and locally and I currently chair three of those boards, after I turn 35, I would send resignation to over half of those boards, and I would publicly make a statement on the boards I’m stepping down from and I would recommend [youths].
- The work of Follow The Money is tackling corruption in government’s funding and ensuring that everyone, even in the remote areas, has equal access to basic needs.
- More importantly, during this COVID pandemic where our lives have been changed and altered, trying to build back better should be the ultimate goal.
- I am honoured that the Gothenburg Sustainability Award recognises our efforts in this regard.
Hamzat Lawal, ICIJ named finalists for $120,000 sustainability award in Sweden
- Now, we are in a phase where we are thinking about building an endowment. The succession plan is the biggest elephant in the room.I want to leave the organisation in such a way that they have a lot of resources, both human capital and financial, but most importantly, something to always fall back to.
- My experience over the last ten years championing education campaigns has proven that young people play pivotal roles in canvassing increased education funding and also influence education policies and planning. These roles include continuous government engagement from the budgeting stage to implementation.
- My Social Studies and Government class teachers helped shape my thought process on advocating for justice and a better world. Since then, I have been involved in advocacy and activism, from Boy Scouts to leading debates and pro-governance dialogues from a young age and now as a Social Accountability Activist. It’s been an interesting journey.
- The biggest risk to economic recovery is the lack of growth; and sustainable growth is impossible without investment in education.
