A LABOR OF LOVE by Pr. Ousmane Ba, Ph.D. July 2nd., 2020
‘Perseverance is what makes the Impossible Possible, the Possible likely, and the likely Definite’ As I poise to pen my thoughts in this article, I can hardly help but ponder and take stock of the unprecedented magnitude of the viral pandemic (COVID 19) that is indiscriminately plaguing our global society and raging havoc in the four corners of our planet. Like a thief in the night, this sanitary crisis of planetary proportions has crept into our lives, rapidly expanding and eclipsing the traditional status-quo. The moral, material and immaterial beliefs and standards of living upon which the “old” world was built are being threatened and shaken in their very foundations. The impact of this invisible global enemy has broad, profound and far-reaching implications on the modus operandi of: 1) governance and healthcare, 2) the leadership orientation of the (higher) education sector, and 3) most importantly the world economy which is currently experiencing severe historic meltdown. It’s precisely against this eerie and quasi-apocalyptic backdrop that the Afro-American University of Central Africa (AAUCA) opened its doors, pledging to thrive and fight for its emergence and uphill mobility despite these unforeseen odds. To paint an appropriate picture of the context (sanitary, educational and socioeconomic, in the main), an overview of the prevailing climate of instability is imperative. A SWOT (Strength, Weakness, Opportunity and Threat) analysis could considerably help create a balanced perspective of what experts call the new normal.
Africa, and humanity at large, is now together in this learning curve, with each nation mobilizing what resources they have to face and wage this war against this global threat. It obviously goes without saying that challenges are pregnant with opportunities; as Reverend Dr. M. L. King illustratively pointed out, “The darkest point at night is when a new day is about to dawn…that it’s only when it’s dark enough that you can see the stars…”. King’s inspirational statement continues to resonate from a distant past, well over a half century ago, and its contemporary relevance is unquestionable. Mankind is inexorably thrust to the threshold of a New World Order that calls for revolutionary change, having to shift and adapt to new paradigms of individual and collective consciousness and social responsibility. In this matrix, tested governance and sound institutions, well endowed with enabling resources, can navigate through this scourge. Though the picture may appear bleak to the oblivious and forecasts of doomsday evangelists not augur well, a glimpse of hope for Africa is perceptible in the not so distant future.
