Opportunity is defined as a set of circumstances that make it possible for us to accomplish a goal. It is a favourable condition, without which an event would have been difficult to accomplish.

People covet favourable conditions always and never get one, whereas some misuse their golden opportunities and for some, no matter how hard they try, opportunities continue to elude them.

Hence, we can talk of unequal opportunities. This is the way of the world and we can complain from now till thy kingdom comes, and nothing will change. Hence, those who are committed to shaping their future must see even their lack of opportunity as a springboard for innovation, breaking new grounds and accomplishing the seemingly impossible.  

The African is grossly at a disadvantage when it comes to life’s opportunities. Their births are difficult, chances of surviving childbirth and childhood are abysmally poor in a world ravaged by poverty, poor health facilities and chronic malaria.

If they survived going to school, they are faced with dilapidated schools, unavailable teaching and learning aids, unqualified teachers. Compared to their mate in other countries of Europe and America, life is not just fair.

Yet, these kids are expected to be successful and contribute to their society. This situation reveals itself everywhere such that African children may be perpetually at a disadvantage unless something is done. 

 

What could be done?

Thus far, most government policies do not favour the poor but rather place on them, extra burden.The just conclude 2024 Olympics bear eloquent testimony to this. Nigerians who left for greener pasture have shown us that, leaving is indeed a good option.

Ask Favour Ofili, how she felt to realize that her own Federation failed to register her for an event of a life time? When we cannot rely on our leaders to chart a better future for our youth, then the youth themselves must chart their own future and time is of the essence especially in the era of Artificial Intelligence, when human beings can be rendered irrelevant very quickly.

So, to mitigate the effects of unequal opportunities, any disadvantaged person must take education seriously. Education is not a scam, but the big different between remaining enslaved by poverty and living a meaningful life.

True education is not just book learning, but learning about life and how to overcome life's challenges. This education is crucial today because it is those who can find solutions to their problems that will be able to survive in a world ruled by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Our problem solving prowess means that as we possess vital skills, both the rich and the powerful will consult with us if they do not want to be left behind. 

For marketable survival skills, hard work and perseverance are required, without this no lasting solution can be found. Unequal Opportunities will plague us throughout our life, therefore complaining about them is no longer beneficial, we must see them as our opportunity for success and look into the situation to draw from it opportunities that naysayers will never fathom.

Parents, teachers and religious leaders have the Herculean task of shaping the mind of the people, especially our young ones not to be limited by the challenges the world places along their path, but to see opportunities to transform the world into a better place. 

Thriving businesses today are those solving people’s problem. Mobile phones rendered landlines obsolete, email have sent letter writing into the archives of human past deeds. It is these advances that have made banking easily accessible to people and communication within the reach of all, solving problems that plagued humanity for so long.

Our ubiquitous cell phone is the gain of relentless efforts of scientists to communicate ceaselessly with probes sent into space, AI, is still unfolding, but it is man’s attempt to empower his machines to do more. 

So, solutions are within our reach of we exact ourselves and this is the lesson to teach our children, opportunities abound, they may be unequal, they are nonetheless begging to be tapped.

There are still problems waiting for resolution, constant power supply, food security, access to quality education and quality health care. We cannot continue to depend on the Western nations to solve our problems for us. No one will respect us.

We have to face our problems ourselves and find lasting solutions to them. This is not just an educational task, but also a social and religious task. Let each of us do something about it.

Let us play our part and what is yet to be done will prove to be an opportunity for others to explore. Unequal Opportunities disadvantage us to the extent that we give them power. Let’s reclaim our power and create our own opportunities.