Use disruptions to unlock opportunities, experts tell youths

Experts have urged Nigerians to adopt strategic approaches whenever faced with disruptions, saying it will help them to unlock untapped opportunities and foster growth.

Psychosocial experts gave the advice during the fifth Unveil, Review, Redefine, Relaunch (UR3) resilience summit at the weekend in Lagos.

Speaking on the theme: ‘Navigating & Evolving Beyond Disruption,’ the keynote speaker and founder, Men of Valour & Naked Truth, Robert Burale, from Kenya emphasised the importance of being flexible and prepared to navigate through disruptions.

Recalling his own struggles, he said he faced disruptive times with suicidal thoughts and attempted suicide three times. However, he emerged from it by using the disruption as a stepping stone, emphasising the importance of finding a higher purpose when disruptions occur.

He said: “Many of you today, you are at that place where you don’t see light at the end of the tunnel. I think that is the biggest lie, you are not supposed to look for light at the end of the tunnel. You are the light that will light up that tunnel.”

Burale said the person, who created Zoom did not create it in response to COVID, it existed prior to the pandemic, and the founder foresaw disruptions. When COVID arrived, despite its disruptive nature, it turned out to be highly lucrative for him, he said, noting that Zoom’s value at one point surpassed that of airlines by sevenfold.

He lamented that the issue with many Africans is the tendency to blame government for not providing jobs, saying government’s role is not to hand out jobs but to establish an environment conducive for employment opportunities.

Self-reengineering and communication coach, who is also the convener, UR3 2024, Stephanie Kadiri, said adversity reveals aspects of realities not encountered before.

“When adversity comes, the questions we should ask ourselves are: Did I do well? Did I give my best? If I gave my best based on how much I knew my best is good enough when I know better, I will do better, that is how we progressively evolved which I call a process of self reengineering,” she said.

Also, growth and transformation expert, Laila St. Matthew-Daniel, said failure should not be seen as a setback, but as an opportunity to extract valuable lessons and insights.

Transformational coach, Dr Irene Olumese, shared her life and personal journey as a double amputee, using prosthetic legs. She said she managed her life’s challenges by transforming her hardships into a sense of purpose, refusing to perceive it as a setback.

Other experts, CEO, Pan African Towers, Azeez Amida; leadership coach, Akanimo Ekong; clinical psychologist, Enitan Oyenuga; and filmaker, acting coach, Ronya Man, all said every disruption is an opportunity for growth and development.