By: Goodluck Emmanuel Adubazi.

In a society where lateness has long been normalized and even excused as “African Time,” one man is boldly challenging the status quo, and rewarding punctuality in the most practical way.

Meet Richmond Osuji, a seasoned media personality and master of ceremonies who has become a passionate advocate for respecting event schedules and fostering a culture of timeliness across Africa. His message is simple yet powerful: “Respect time, honor events, say no to African Time.”

Rewarding the Early Birds

Over the years, Osuji has transformed his advocacy into a signature act. At every event he anchors, he identifies and rewards those who arrive early, a symbolic but effective way to encourage others to do the same.

In 2025 alone, Osuji has presented multiple cash awards to punctual attendees at major national events.

During the Nigeria Energy Week (NOG Week) held at the Bola Ahmed Tinubu International Conference Centre, Abuja, he awarded ₦250,000, a one-off prize, to a participant who arrived well before the official start of the program, a gesture that left many industry players inspired.

Similarly, at another high-profile event at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, Osuji once again honored an early attendee with a cash prize, reinforcing his mission to reward respect for time.

Leading by Example at ICHST 2025

On Wednesday, October 22, 2025, during the International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHST) organized by the Petroleum Training Institute and sponsored by Maton Engineering and the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), Osuji continued his tradition.

As the master of ceremonies, he asked who had arrived earliest, and upon learning it was a journalist from Standard Times Nigeria, Goodluck Emmanuel Adubazi, he presented a ₦50,000 cash gift in recognition of his punctuality.

“It’s about building a new mindset,” Osuji explained. “We are Africans, known for hard work, discipline, and excellence. Lateness should not define us.”

Changing the Culture, One Event at a Time

Osuji’s consistent advocacy is more than symbolic, it’s a movement. His approach combines motivation, recognition, and positive reinforcement, all aimed at changing a deeply ingrained habit that costs organizations productivity and tarnishes Africa’s global image.

Observers say that if more public figures and institutions emulate his example, the infamous “African Time” could soon become a thing of the past.

A Call to Actions

Osuji’s campaign is not just for individuals but for institutions. He believes that government agencies, corporate organizations, and even lawmakers must play a role in institutionalizing punctuality.

“If we can have a million Richmond Osujis,” he says with a smile, “African Time will be history.”

The message is clear: Respect for time is respect for self, for others, and for Africa.

Goodluck Emmanuel Adubazi is a Business Correspondent with Standard Times Nigeria. His reports have been featured both nationally and internationally for their depth and human-interest appeal.