Beating African Time Mentality

Though this menace is rampant in our society that we can't shy away from it
But I have not been privileged to travel to other African countries, so I don't know if the assertion is absolutely true across board
One thing am certain of is that certain programs and events commenced behind scheduled in Nigeria


Just yesterday, I had an important meeting scheduled to commence by 1:00pm and nothing popped up until past 2:00pm or thereabout
While waiting, a fellow member turned to me and say "I think you need to write on time management"
Then I answered with a simple but coherent statement " it's not the fault of the participants for the meeting starting behind scheduled but that of the organizers "

What I had come to notice over time that even when as a participant, you get to the venue at scheduled time
Some events are probably not going to start due to what the organizers later tagged unforseen circumstances
Going back to my meeting yesterday, from the first instance the meeting starting by 1:00pm is not feasible as those who're expected to be present are having lectures until that 1:00pm
Then I told my partner, do you expects them to fly from their lecture rooms down here

So what I'm saying in essence is that people tends to go late to some events When they have an idea that the organizers only stated a time not feasible
In the same Nigeria where we complained of African time
People still gets to interview some hours before stipulated time
Though in most cases starts behind scheduled but it's obvious that's a means to seive some applicants out

Students still gets to lecture halls before their lecturers
They still gets to examination venue before examination commences
People still gets to the airport to catch their flights at an appointed time
Why is there no African time mentality in the above settings?
Because we all know those events will actually take off at those stipulated time without interference

So I believe, to curb the African time mentality in other settings
Organizers of events, meetings, congress, conferences should be pro active
Enough of unforseen circumstances and logistics problems that got us delayed
Enough of announcing a program that will commence by 2:00pm to be 1:00pm just because we are of the opinion people will come late
Trust me they will come by 3:00pm

If a program is scheduled to commence by a stipulated time
Let it start at that exact time even when no one is present
This might sound ridiculous but it's actually the truth
But all things been equal, at least one person will keep to time
Let others come and meet you starts already
If you call a next meeting, you will be amazed at how people will turn out at the right time.

Does churches and mosques wait for worshippers to be present before starting their prayers
Of course not, there is a time schedule, if you're there good for you and if you're late, you join them
Enough of waiting for large numbers of people to be around before starting
If this is adopted, I believe in no time the menace of African time in Nigeria will only be a story.