An online platform for the advancement of economic freedom and human rights in Africa sponsored 10 delegates from Nigeria to the just concluded 9th edition of Students and Young Professionals African Liberty Academy (SYPALA) in Accra, Ghana.
The academy which is a partnership between the Washington based Atlas Economic Research Institute and Accra based IMANI Centre for Policy & Education, is geared toward training a new crop of visionary African leaders who will blaze the trail for a free Africa, it said in a statement.
This year’s academy which was recently hosted at the University of Ghana Business School explored the Africa Rising narrative with the objective of educating delegates on the dynamics of policy conception, formulation, implementation and evaluation in the New Africa.
The 10 delegates from Nigeria were picked from over 120 candidates who applied to attend the Accra conference by submitting entries for an essay competition raised for the purpose of shortlisting the best brains available.
Among the delegates from Nigeria were Bukola Ogunyemi, a blogger and social media influencer, and Oladiran Dolapo Abimbola, a PhD student of the University if Pretoria who joined the team from South Africa. Others are Adesipo Temitope Abiodun, Olasupo Abideen Opeyemi, Oyelowo Eyitayo Abiodun, Ugbabe Damian, Olaoluwa Abagun, Emmanuella Odum, Frank Eleanya, and Abolaji Kazeem.
The delegation was led by one of Nigeria’s most influential columnists and media entrepreneur and a leading voice for liberty in Africa, Japheth Omojuwa.
Omojuwa was also a part of the team of distinguished speakers at the conference with others like Franklin Cudjoe, President of IMANI, Fatim Badjie, former Minister for Health & Social Welfare in The Gambia, Dr Godfred Bokpin, Head of Finance Department of University of Ghana Business School, Kofi Bentil, Vice President of IMANI Ghana, Dr Franklin Oduro, Deputy Director of Centre for Democracy & Development, Ghana, among others.
Nigeria is seeking to host next year’s edition of SYPALA, as the academy marks a decade of influencing government policies on the African continent.
