Management Guest Speakers and Scholars at the Annual Roundtable on Cultural Orientation, ARTCO, have advised Nigerians to imbibe the culture of good time management towards enhancing their productivity.
The Annual Roundtable which is being organized by the National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, has as its theme “The African Time Syndrome: Implication For National Development”.
One of the Guest Speakers and Former Vice Chancellor, Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof. Charity Angya stressed the need for the public and private sector to deal with the menace of African time in their day to day activities.
Prof. Angya who expressed concern over poor time management in public functions said most productive hours are always been wasted due to the mentality of African time by some Nigerians.
In a paper presentation entitled “Leadership and Change Management: Strategies for Promoting Culture of Punctuality and Time Consciousness”, the Former Acting Director General, National Institute for Hospitality and Tourism, NIHOTOUR, Dr. Kabiru Momoh blamed leaders at various levels as being responsible for the problem of African time in the country.
Dr. Momoh therefore called for a change of attitude as good time management is vital for economic growth and development.
Also in his paper presentation, the immediate Past Dean, Faculty of Management Science, Benue State University, Makurdi, Prof Paul Angahar highlighted benefits of good time management to include improved productivity, integrity, good relationship, sense of responsibility, growth and development among others.
Prof. Angahar emphasized the need for effective sensitization campaign on the need for Nigerians to embrace good time management for national development. In a remark, the Executive Secretary/CEO, National Institute for Cultural Orientation, NICO, Mr Ado Yahuza said the Annual Roundtable was part of the Institute’s contributions towards changing some ills in the society.
Mr Yahuza stated that the choice of this year’s theme was to highlights the challenges posed by African time to national development. He therefore advised Nigerians to always keep to time in their engagements and shun the mentality of African time to enable them achieve their daily set goals and objectives.
Other contributors and participants at the Roundtable commended NICO for the annual event and called for more sensitization programmes that would enable Nigeria take its rightful place among comity of nations. MATHEW AYOOLA
