Bola-Ige Alabi-Efeshodiamhe
National Coordinator at World Youth Alliance Africa, Global Ambassador at Ayn Rand Institute Global and Regional Leader at Paytomat by Deep Dive Research
Studied Public Relations Studies at Nigeria Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) Lagos, Nigeria.
Lives in Lagos, Nigeria
John: How is the movement in Nigeria?
BA: We are trying. Just need support (intellectual, advisory, etc) as a startup organization in a choked socialist and communist environment like Africa.
We need a volunteer Board of Advisors at the moment.
John: What is your vision?
BA: Personally, my vision is to witness a freer African society. Politically, I and my team are in the process of registering the Libertarian Party in Nigeria (first in Africa soil).
We are filing for registration in a couple of months once we raised the #1,000,000 (equivalent $2,750) registration fee demanded by the Electoral Commission in-charge of party registration.
With African Objectivist Movement (AOM), we aim to advance freedom and liberty through educational awareness, advocacy, dialogue, and discussions about the ideas of liberty, freedom, and Objectivism; leading to free, prosperous and peaceful society where limited governments defend the rule of law.
We move around teaching Ayn Rand’s philosophy of Objectivism by organizing speaker events, discussion groups, and other activities. I love that interaction.
John: How did you become Libertarian, sir?
BA: The journey of my Libertarianism and Objectivism started back in my High school days in 1997 after reading through Ayn Rand book “Fountainhead” and participated in an essay with it.
I later ended up reading some of her other publications. I joined Students for Liberty in 2013, served as Campus Coordinator, Local Representative, and African Director of Branding and Success Stories until I became alumni in April 2019.
I started the first Objectivist Campus Club in Africa while I was in University and I have been teaching Ayn Rand, Frederick Bastiat, Mises, Hayek, Reed, and publications about Libertarianism across African campuses.
Now the Libertarian movement is growing quickly throughout Africa.
John: Yes, the movement is blooming in Africa… as well as some of the economies.
BA: Recently, I come across a poll where Jo is ahead of Trump and Biden. How I wish Americans will make it real in November.
John: Yes, I am excited about the election… What seems to be working in Africa? Where is your best ROI?
BA: Return on Investment? This is not to make money sir. My interest is to see my society with freedom and liberty. The need to end authoritarianism in Africa is what is moving my actions
John: I understand… I thought maybe your funds were limited…
BA: O’ yes, very limited at the moment. Our members used to contribute voluntarily to our activities.
John: How do you measure results?
BA: We measure results based on acceptance and changing the climate of ideas.
John: How do you measure those things?
BA: Presently, we have launched chapters in 16 African countries, members of the chapters independently have executives, organize programs and events, and report back for updates.
We have a website with a link to each country chapters in South Africa, Nigeria, Ghana, Niger, Togo, Rwanda, Burundi, Zambia, Cameroon, DR Congo, Guinea, Zimbabwe, Gambia, Zambia, Kenya, etc
We receive monthly updates of activities from our National chapters and numerous campus chapters, with updates on the website, before it went down recently due to the inability to renew the web hosting right.
Even with inability to host in-person events due to global pandemic, our chapters and members are organizing webinars and virtual events to teach the idea of freedom almost every week as it applies to a time like this, to impact the society with our mission.
Also, the reports and feedback we are getting from participants and audience at our programs both in-person and virtual, the media coverage we received, how government and its officials debate about our ideology and the agenda we are setting with the idea of liberty and freedom across Africa are proving the outcome that new idea is in town, and Authoritarian socialist and communist lifestyle are on their toes. And we just started.
John: Do you have any advice for new libertarians and the curious?
BA: My advice to new libertarians and the curious is to be open to learning about the idea of freedom and liberty. There is much to learn, most importantly for the African because Libertarianism is still new in Africa.
Africa has been an authoritarian environment under Socialism and Communism for close to 100 years, and the majority do not know that there is something like Libertarianism.
So, some of us that are Libertarian and the curious need to learn widely and be grounded in the idea. Then, the need to keep pushing for policy debate, publicity, awareness, etc should be common in our activities for now.
With this, I believe we can start making an impact on the idea of liberty in a few years to come.
John: Do you have any advice for discouraged long time libertarians?
BA: Discouraged long-time libertarians should wake up to reality. It is not easy to suddenly change the idea that has been in operation for ages. They should renew effort in advancing Libertarianism, in the end, their impact will be felt with a change in the climate of ideas from an authoritarian environment to a free society.
Self-Determination Advocates 