HSPS – Cambridge University,

As a Nigerian, my ambition is to use the opportunities I have been given to play

some part in helping my own country and its neighbours find a way towards their
own sustainable model of economic, political and social development. In order to
have any hope of playing a positive role in this great challenge I am determined to
acquire an in-depth understanding of international relations, political theory,
sociology and the connections between these three disciplines.

Living between two countries means I have witnessed the workings of contrasting
societies: the UK, where politics is built on centuries of conventions, and Nigeria,
where the democratic system is younger and more fragile. This experience makes
me particularly interested in the question of whether Western models of governance
are universally applicable, or whether local cultural and historical factors can cause
these models to fail to take root or to develop in unexpected, unpleasant directions.
Studying economics has given me some understanding of how restrictive global
financial factors can be on individual nations and their political leaders. Last summer
I went on a Cambridge Immerse summer course which allowed me to explore a
variety of topics, such as neo-realism and the non-aligned movement. Because of
my background I am particularly interested in globalisation and the extent to which
this is a universally beneficial process or a form of neo-imperialism in which the dice
are loaded against developing countries. An example which highlighted this question
for me was the fate of Kwame Nkrumah in Ghana. I am also interested in the current
debate about the pros and cons of military intervention in the Middle East and
whether this is an even more obvious form of neo-imperialism.

In my Upper Sixth Politics course I am studying ideologies and am most interested in

Liberalism - mainly because it is the meta-ideology of western culture. One of the
things which interests me most about liberal thought is the problematic concept of
freedom, and in particular whether the classical liberal concept of "negative freedom"
is enough to ensure real freedom for all and, conversely, whether the more social
democratic ideal of using the state to foster social justice for the less fortunate is
ever truly compatible with individual freedom and flourishing. On a deeper level I am
interested in the slippery character of the whole concept of freedom. I think this is
particularly important to feminists, for whom it is often difficult to work out whether
modern capitalism is a great liberator from traditional restrictions or the bringer of
new and insidious forms of psychological oppression. In addition to being fluent in
Yoruba, I am also studying French to A Level and hope to expand my language
repertoire over the coming years. It is important to me to keep developing my French
and to learn other languages because I do hope, in the end, to work in some kind of
international context. I'm currently reading 'The Wretched of the Earth'. Although
some of the economics is slightly out of date, my enduring interest is in the
psychoanalysis which allows me to look at decolonisation from a different angle.

I have been fortunate to help in my community through voluntary work at a local

nursing home and cancer hospice charity shop. I have also led my year group on a
campaign to raise GBP1000 for Breakthrough Breast Cancer, for which I was
awarded our School prize for Initiative. I am further developing my leadership skills
through my roles as Deputy Head Girl and Head of the Marketing Team. My skills in
marketing were also developed through my work placement at the Lagos State
Electricity Board where I helped launch a social media platform for their "Conserve
Energy, Save Money" campaign. I hope this statement shows my passion for
studying politics from many different perspectives, and my potential as a student who
could really make the most of their time at your university.