"In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity." - Albert Einstein

Edward Oladele

March 24, 2025 |

3 mins

Quotes and wise sayings can be veritable frames of reference. I built this write up on a few of them.

I am reminded of the words of Napoleon Hill - "Every adversity, every failure, every heartache carries with it the seed of an equal or greater benefit." Indeed, while many of us read Think and Grow Rich for nuggets of financial wisdom, there were many concepts that it taught for everyday life.

In telling the story of Barnes, Hill wrote - “When the opportunity came, it appeared in a different form, and from a different direction than Barnes had expected. That is one of the tricks of opportunity. It has a sly habit of slipping in by the back door, and often it comes disguised in the form of misfortune, or temporary defeat. Perhaps this is why so many fail to recognize opportunity.”

My words are not about personal challenges and the opportunities that they may carry. While my writing may apply in that wise, today, I write about the desired African response, a response to an abrupt weaning off aid, that challenges us to reexamine our approach to taking care of our own. It is quite heartwarming, to read many authors advance or support the narrative, that this moment is an opportunity - an opportunity to urgently transform our health and other social services systems on the continent.

In the words of Marcus Aurelius, "The impediment to action advances action. What stands in the way becomes the way." Wayne Gretzky is famously quoted to have said that you miss 100% of the shots that you don't take. Africa should be spurred to action by the urgency created in this moment. There are many questions but we will find the right answers. After all, it is true what Voltaire wrote - "No problem can withstand the assault of sustained thinking." The will to act is where it all starts.

The Yorubas say - "Òrìsà tí 'ńgbe ọle kòsí; apá ẹní ní ńgbe ni." ["A god that comes to the aid of a lazy person does not exist; one's arms support one."]. Africa must not miss this opportunity clothed as a challenge.

The Yorubas say - "Òrìsà tí 'ńgbe ọle kòsí; apá ẹní ní ńgbe ni." ["A god that comes to the aid of a lazy person does not exist; one's arms support one."]. Africa must not miss this opportunity clothed as a challenge. There is a need to support different initiatives that are ongoing on the continent as a course is being charted for the future. This is the right thing to do.

The springing up of beauty. Photo credit: Omololuoye Majekodunmi.

This article was first published on LinkedIn