Winner of the Network for a Free Society Essay Competition 2014, Adeloye Olanrewaju Samuel of the Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Nigeria. He has this to say “ Nothing gladdens my mind like finally having a society that truly sings the song of my drought heart. A heart that is tired of waiting for a world that truly promotes peace, freedom and liberty. A heart whose vision is to stop waiting and start acting. Winning the African Liberty 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and Full Scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) at University of Cape Town Graduate Business School, South Africa from September 4-7, 2014 is a dream come true. This remains one of the best things that happened. I want to use this opportunity to thank African Liberty for organizing a platform for youths to share their mind sets on the current state of Social and economic freedom in Africa and the rest of the world”.
Creating the Foundations of a Free Prosperous Africa
AfricanLiberty .org 2014 Essay Competition Report powered by Network for a Free Society
The 2014 Essay competition proved it strong capacity in the drive for the basic understanding of freedom towards a prosperous Africa and invariably the world. The change of orientation by the young folks in Africa is a great testimony to the effectiveness of the competition. Although other efforts to liberate the people and the young African population from the welfare created states worth mentioning but the discovery of the young liberty voices created by this essay competition has outgrown other efforts. The only closer activities to this easy competition is the yearly SYPALA and outreaches to universities also being run by AfricanLiberty.org.
Japheth Omojuwa has this to say “I was a prize winner of this competition in 2010, today, I am a partner of the organization and its international allies”. Previous winners of this competition like Chofor Che (Cameroon), Oluwanifise Moses Abiodun (Nigeria), Alex Ndungu, (Kenya) Shafic Osman (Ghana) Dave Mankhokwe Namusanya (Malawi) and the likes are central partners today. Some are today strong freedom voices at our several events and are paid contributors to the platforms, Some are running Think Tanks in their countries and some on media doing wonderful work to promote the principles of a free society. Almost all the young African liberals making impact today traced to Network for a Free Society sponsored yearly essay competition
This year witnessed a submission of 527 essay from Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia,Mozambique, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Uganda and to our surprise Francophone countries like Togo, Benin Republic and Cameroon. With field outreaches, posters and banners to universities, the continuation of our collaborative effort with Newspapers and strong drive on social media, the essay competition was well broadcast. And surprisingly, from our data base collection the result reached well over 500,000 people via social media.
The first position goes to Adeloye Olanrewaju Samuel of the Department of Physiology, Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Ogbomoso, Oyo State. Nigeria. He has this to say “ Nothing gladdens my mind like finally having a society that truly sings the song of my drought heart. A heart that is tired of waiting for a world that truly promotes peace, freedom and liberty. A heart whose vision is to stop waiting and start acting. Winning the African Liberty 1st-George Ayittey (Platinum Prize): $1,000 and Full Scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) at University of Cape Town Graduate Business School, South Africa from September 4-7, 2014 is a dream come true. This remains one of the best things that happened. I want to use this opportunity to thank African Liberty for organizing a platform for youths to share their mind sets on the current state of Social and economic freedom in Africa and the rest of the world”.
The second place -Anthony Fisher (Gold) prize goes to Gracious Odala Balamu of the department of Philosophy, Chancellor College. University of Malawi. Gracious discovered the liberty platform in 2012 having an “Ideas for a Free Society CD) to rely on as his mini-library. He participated in the 2012 and 2013 essay competition and became a founding and active member of African Liberty Students Organization of his school. He finally won after a strong determination and his love for Liberty.
Olusegun Omoleye, a year two student of Medicine and Surgery, University of Ibadan, Oyo State, Nigeria won the Derenle Edun (Silver) Prize: $500 and full scholarship to 2014 Students and Young Professional African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) at the University of Cape Town Graduate Business School, South Africa from September 4 – 7, 2014. The Dean of the Faculty attested to the brilliancy of the student and couldn’t hide his joy when he called to confirm the reality of the announcement.
A shape contrast and a new development in the 2014 essay competition is that major submission and winners comes from science based department and faculty.
Aside from the second position, other winners are science based.The trio on fourth-position are science students: Shittu Oluwakemi Adeola from the Department of Biology, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo State, Uzuazor Precious Aghogho Chemical Engineering, University of Benin, Edo State and Afolayan Monisola Ayowumi, Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. This is one of the major evidence of the spread of the competition and ability to raise more consciousness of the ideas of a free society which is highly been dominated by the social science department.
All is ready for SYPALA 2014 and cash prizes will be presented to winners in their respective schools . 400 foundations of a Free Society and 130 Why Liberty books sent by post to all entries. Some have received it by some who complained have been promised to get one soon.
Successes
Network for a Free Society sponsored yearly Essay competition remain the most vibrant channel of introducing New ideas to the young Population in African Universities. And as a matter of fact, none like it in existence in Africa
The competition cut across all African countries judging from entries received from Nigeria, Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia,Mozambique, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Uganda and to our surprise Francophone countries like Togo, Benin Republic,Burkina Faso and Cameroon ETC. No section of the society have challenge its credibility or of it being bias either in its outreach or judgment in Africa.
The competition has discovered and grown more liberals in Africa other than other efforts. Just to mention a few from countries :Chofor Che (Cameroon),Japheth Omujuwa (Nigeria), Alex Ndungu (Kenya), Shafic Osman Dave (Ghana), Dave Mankhokwe Namusanya (Malawi). For any challenge on this fact, more names and activities will be provided. Even Adedayo Thomas capacity to work has been influenced and built by this project. This year one time winner was recruited as one of the judges. We have started reaping from the fruits we planted.
Relationship with media have been cordial and a speedy growth is achieved announcing the result which reached well over 500,000 people via social media. The print media in Africa have not been known to be disposed to students activities but the essay competition created a ground for that.
It has equally been a major source of entering into African Universities to talk and distribute materials to students. Last year, UniversIty of Ife allowed our entry because a students won the prize.