The following article was contributed by senior Charter Teams member from Nigeria, Adeniyi Moronfolu.

Our Free Speech Wall Event and Symposium witnessed a frenzy amongst pro-liberty students in the Southwest of Nigeria as many congregated at the Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, to partake in constructing the free speech wall on campus and commemorate the third year in existence of the African Liberty Students’ Organization. The two day event started with an opening word from senior Charter Team member Moronfolu on the importance of free speech on African campuses.

Lateef Raji, president of the host chapter of the African Liberty Students’ Organization chapter and new SFL Charter Team member, spent the next few minutes extolling the virtues of a liberal society and encouraging students not to be complacent about political activism. Students turned out en mass to express their views on what students wrote on the wall, which ranged from comments on the economic situation of the nation and the continent to academics and personal thoughts.

Students participating in the free speech wall event soon began to form into groups discussing current economic issues and postulating market-based solutions to African challenges.

Eventually the wall filled up completely, leading students to continue writing on the other side of the board.  The event continued with a dance performance by a group known as the JIVES who entertained the crowd; musicians, comedians and creative students all volunteered to light up the atmosphere by performing for free. This also served as an avenue to recruit new members as over a dozen students showed their interest in the Organisation.

Throughout the day, the event attracted more and more students despite the scorching Nigerian sun.  The week finally concluded with a symposium on the values of liberty, which featured Adedayo Thomas, Director of Outreach and Publisher at AfricanLiberty.org. Adedayo spoke on free markets in African history. Olumayowa Okediran, alumnus of the school and member of SFL’s international executive board, spoke about SFL’s theory of social change discouraged participants from political apathy.  Additionally included in the event were staff of the University: Dr. Motunrayo Ariyo spoke on the role of education in building a modern and prosperous Africa.  Adedayo Thomas closed the event by donating boxes of books authored by individuals like Frederic Bastiat, Ayn Rand, Adam Smith and Cato Institute research journals.