Education non-profit trains UniAbuja students on pro-freedom ideology

BY SHITTU MARIAM 

The Liberalist Centre for Education, a nonprofit, has concluded a sensitisation programme themed “The Next Advocate Liberty Project.”

The two-day event was held at the University of Abuja’s communications and media studies faculty on December 4 and 6.

The centre educated over 40 students on liberty, pro-freedom ideology, and how to chart better economic pathways for people to thrive.

Participants identified challenges facing local markets in West African countries, including competition and the mixed economy.

Eric Mobu, director of programmes for the centre, said the initiative aims to empower Nigerian university students with the knowledge and practical tools to understand, apply, and advocate for liberty-based principles as solutions to local and national challenges.

Mobu explained that the next phase of the project will be implemented across two other campuses of Kaduna State University and Nasarawa State University.

In a book review session moderated by Mobu, speakers explore the major titles like “An Introduction to Capitalism” by Eamon Butler, a popular British economist and director of the global think-tank Adam Smith Institute.

The speakers included Mohammed Taoheed, a researcher with DUBAWA, the verification project of the Centre for Journalism, Innovation and Development (CJID).

Also among the speakers was Favour Adeboye, the programmes intern at the Liberalist Centre.

Adeboye stressed that critical sectors like oil and power in Nigeria operate under a less capitalist system, reducing competition.

She pushed for a society where capitalism and healthy competition can make citizens have a plethora of fair prices and choices to make despite a low purchasing power.

On his part, Mohammed stated that while he believes African countries like Nigeria and Kenya would embrace the idea of capitalism to an extent, it would go a long way if they can shift properly to it to spread liberty and prosperity.

Abdullah Tijani, the executive director of the Liberalist Centre, introduced the student’s to the fundamental principles of individual rights, free markets and limited government.

The session detailed why it matters for young people to become the bold voices for freedom and how reporting on such could be amplified.

“Pro- freedom journalism is a type of journalism that supports people’s freedom, focuses on political freedom/rights, free trade, and smaller government,” he said.