by Grace Akunna John-Emezi, HHCJ, Hospital Administrator and member of CLDP Cohort 10
Leadership takes on a profound meaning when life is difficult, especially in settings where resources are limited. Imagine working in a rural hospital in Nigeria, with no electricity, surrounded by patients who look to you for hope, for healing. In such moments, leadership is not about titles or authority but about resilience, creativity, and compassion.
It’s no longer about what can be done easily, but what must be done accurately despite the circumstances. In Ancilla Hospital Ihitte, Ezinihitte, Imo State, Nigeria where I work, as darkness closes in, I must shine brighter. We always try to keep our morale high, and remind everyone of the purpose of saving lives, providing care, and offering comfort, even when it seems impossible.
Leadership in these moments is about being calm amidst the chaos. Take for instance in Ihitte where we work, the last time we enjoyed electricity here was during Easter period of 2024. We do not have a decent convent to live in. Eight Sisters are living inside the hospital who are constantly harassed by patients and patients’ relatives. We are exposed to diseases and are constantly in labour whenever there is a labour case. As leaders we must remain resilient in the face of these challenges in order to give hope to the people.
Resourcefulness is a crucial trait of leadership in these environments. Without electricity, our level of care is compromised and some vaccines that are supposed to be maintained under cold chain also suffer potency problems. Our responsibility as leaders is that we must find ways around such situations to keep the system working.
The patients in the hospital sometimes are in distress. The team might be on edge because of no light. A woman is in labour and there is no electricity. Our leadership roles compel us to be resourceful, offering reassurance of hope to those who look up to us.
Faith is also a source of strength. In our rural settings where spirituality and religion often play a large role, I find solace in their faith, and in turn, offer that same solace to others which we do through prayer, words of encouragement, or simply holding on to hope and building bridges of hope. I always try to inspire trust that, though the situation is difficult, we are not alone.
Ultimately, leadership in such challenging times is about adaptability, empathy, and unwavering commitment to the mission at hand. It’s about realizing that even without electricity, without ideal conditions, we can still lead with light drawing on inner strength, community, and a deep sense of purpose. In doing so, we transform a moment of crisis into an opportunity for resilience and collective growth.
Photos from the hospital where Sr. Grace serves.
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