Stop ‘African Time’…be punctual

But why are we always late? Why do we have to subscribe to the notion of African time? I have been learning about motivation lately and couldn’t help but wonder what exactly motivates one to arrive at a function late.

Over the years, it’s been seen that when a Nigerian says an event is to start by 12pm, some guests get there by 11:52am , sees just few people and the event doesn’t actually start till about 1:30 or even later.

It is by the supposed 12pm that technical unit is setting up or the hosts are yet to arrive. This unfortunately has caused many to always add an hour or two to their arrival time at an event.

One would not want to come at just the right time because there’ll be only few people present and thus the event would start late.

Nobody would want to wait hours doing nothing before others arrive or listen to countless apologies for not starting on time.

But why can’t events start on time? Why can’t guests arrive early? After all, it’s better to be early than late, but if the norm is to arrive late because they know the event will start late, why not just start early so that whoever comes late won’t try same at another event? Isn’t it better arriving early than meeting the end?

If everyone has this mentality, think about it, an event is slated for 12pm, you arrive at 11:45am and it starts at noon on the dot, wouldn’t that be better? Rather than saying an event will start at 12 and by 1:30 the MC is still apologising for starting late.

We keep saying it is ‘African time’, but you never get to your embassy appointments late even in your ‘African’ country. Why didn’t same apply? The answer is simple, you know exactly what to do, you just chose not to.

You get an invite that boldly states ‘no African time’ accompanied with the envelope yet, both guests and host are late.

Seriously, we can do better and it starts with you and I. If an event is by 12pm, be there on time. Hosts and conveners should be tired of apologising for starting late. It is best to stick to the slated time and prepare ahead.

If an event for 12pm begins, and you get there by 2pm because you think it will be ‘business as usual’, and you meet the closing remarks, trust me, you’ll be pained that you wasted time, energy, fuel or transport fare only to have missed the real deal.

I am sure you will resolve right there never to try such again. Next time, you’ll either arrive on time or choose not to go because you won’t want the same thing to happen again.

No more African time please, let it start with you and I. Be punctual!