The following was written by Nigerian Senior Charter Team member Odunola Oladejo

“When thinking about the merits and limitations of solving problems of social coordination through market mechanisms, it’s useful to clear away some common myths. By myths, I mean those statements that simply pass for obviously true without any need for argument or evidence… The danger is that they are so wide spread, they are not subjected to critical examination”

The first paragraph of the book, ‘Twenty Myths About Markets’ edited by Tom G. Palmer changed my mind set about a free market economy.

My journey to making the world a freer society started when I was invited to the African Liberty Leadership Retreat in 2011. About 30 student leaders came together to discuss their challenges and way forward for the promotion of classical liberal principles in their respective schools. At the Retreat, I had the opportunity to lay my hands on a book; ‘Morality of Capitalism’ (What Your Professors Won’t Tell You), and also went through an English CD, ‘Ideas For A Free Society’, produced by Network For A Free Society which contains relevant liberty-related texts.
Reading Frederic Bastiat’s ‘The Law” encouraged me and some students in my school to get an official approval of a pro-liberty organization, African Liberty Students’ Organization.

Despite the fact that I was an active member of two organizations in my school, being introduced to the Students For Liberty Network in 2012 has increased the passion within me to empower other students for leadership skills so as to become agents of positive change within and outside their communities.

I’ve been able to explore and develop my leadership potentials. I’ve also been able to deal with nervousness. I remember the day I was asked to give a presentation in class. When it was time for me talk, I could not utter a word. Even though I prepared prior the presentation, I was still so nervous. Imagine if you found yourself looking stupid in public, and at the same time you feel everyone thinks you really are… I was in that state when I went back to my seat.

Then, I realized that if I really wanted to be truly satisfied with whatever I do, I needed to develop myself personally, most especially to make the cause of liberty an awesome experience for me and other students who look up to me.

My engagement in a-40 hour training on Elocution and Public Speaking made my Hall, which I represented, to emerge the overall winner in an Inter-Hall Oratory Competition.

Also, my position as a senior Charter Team Member of the Students For Liberty, and the President of African Liberty Students’ Organization at the University of Ibadan has helped me in a great way as I am able to identify student leaders, create student groups, and run events to educate them on the meaning of liberty, and what they stand to benefit as pro-liberty students.

As an advocate of liberty, I want to spread and promote the ideas of liberty to people within my vicinity, and to the outside world.