By Boluwatife Adedokun
The Liberalist Centre, a pro-freedom organization, alongside development experts, has renewed calls for greater accountability as a pathway to improving liberty and fostering prosperity across Africa.
The call was made during the maiden edition of the Conference of Freedom Advocates 2025 held in Abuja. The conference, themed “Inspire,” centered on discussions around free markets, limited government, and the importance of liberal values in national development.
In a statement released on Wednesday, Abdullah Tijani, Executive Director of the Liberalist Centre, reflected on the notion that Africa’s underdevelopment is rooted in its lack of freedom. Tijani, a legal practitioner, stressed the role of ideas and open dialogue in advancing liberty across the continent.
Speaking at the conference, Iniobong Usen, Senior Program Coordinator at the International Budget Partnership, identified government interference as a major threat to liberty in Nigeria.
He explained that such interference often affects national economies, citing President Bola Tinubu’s 2023 decision to remove fuel subsidies as a recent example.
“For Nigeria, petroleum subsidy remains the big elephant in the room. The state-owned NNPC used to be the sole importer of fuel products, determining both price and availability. But with the removal of subsidy, we saw long queues appear across the country,” Usen said.
He emphasized that citizens’ collective demand for transparency and accountability from the government remains crucial to achieving societal prosperity.
Participants React
Muritala Abdullahi, a journalist and participant, described the event as a thought-provoking gathering that examined the urgent need to address the barriers hindering Africa’s economic and social growth.
“Freedom was placed at the forefront of the many possibilities explored. Discussions analyzed the impact of excessive government control on trade, security, agriculture, and other sectors. The panels also reflected on the kind of government Africa needs — and the kind it must move beyond — through a critical lens on harsh policies in Nigeria and across the continent,” he said.
“As an advocate of freedom, encompassing individual liberty, free markets, and limited government, the conference left me inspired and better equipped with strategies to continue championing a freer and more prosperous Africa,” he added.
Another participant, Habibat Sani, a law graduate, said the gathering encouraged individuals to collectively promote liberty, good governance, and a society where every citizen has the freedom and opportunity to thrive.
She described the conference as an avenue to continuously amplify the ideals of a freer society.
