Renowned legal luminary and constitutional lawyer, Prof. Mike Ozekhome, SAN, has shared profound insights on the role of luck and divine intervention in achieving success, describing success as a mixture of human effort and divine orchestration.
In an exclusive interview, Prof. Ozekhome explained that while preparation, knowledge, vision, and discipline are critical, they alone do not account for the full measure of success.
“This is one of the most fascinating questions I encounter, especially when speaking to young minds and aspiring professionals: ‘Do you believe in luck, sir?’” Ozekhome said. “My answer is nuanced. I believe in preparedness meeting opportunity—that intersection many call luck. But beyond that, I believe profoundly in divine intervention—a higher orchestration of events beyond the capacity or control of man.”
According to the celebrated Senior Advocate of Nigeria, the concept of grace often supersedes mere luck. Drawing from his personal experiences, he recalled critical moments in his life where divine intervention shaped outcomes in unexpected ways, including surviving life-threatening situations like his kidnapping ordeal.
“In my book How to Succeed: 50 Strategies and Tactics, Strategy 50, I wrote about ‘Inviting Divine Guidance’ (putting God first).’ There’s often a mysterious extra layer in the journey to success—what some call fortune, others favour, but I call grace. Grace is that element that tilts the odds in your favour, even when you’re not the most qualified or most deserving by human standards,” he stated.
Prof. Ozekhome emphasized that while one must actively pursue excellence—studying hard, working tirelessly, networking, and persevering—there are unseen forces that influence outcomes. He highlighted the Igbo adage, “Onye kwe, Chi ya ekwe” (if one agrees or aligns with purpose, his spirit or God will also agree), as reflective of this principle.
“Life is not a machine driven only by input and output,” he stressed. “Sometimes the supernatural intervenes. That’s why you can’t talk about success without factoring in the unseen forces that shape outcomes.”
Referencing global success stories analyzed by Malcolm Gladwell in Outliers, Ozekhome noted that beyond talent, individuals like Bill Gates and The Beatles succeeded due to rare opportunities aligned with their preparation. He termed this “divine orchestration.”
However, he cautioned that divine intervention is not a substitute for hard work or preparation. “Faith is not laziness dressed in religious language,” he said, warning those who depend solely on their talents without acknowledging God risk of losing everything.
Interestingly, the full story of Prof. Ozekhome’s life journey—his humble beginnings, challenges, triumphs, and success strategies—is captured as a dedicated chapter in my forthcoming book, 55 Timeless Success Secrets. Readers will discover first-hand accounts of his experiences, including powerful lessons on resilience, humility, divine favour, and leadership.
As Prof. Ozekhome concluded, “You must plant, but it is heaven that sends the rain. You must prepare, but God provides the stage. You must knock, but divine favour ensures the door opens.”
