The Vice Chancellor reading his address at the occasion.
Some parents and guardians who traveled from across the state to attend the 5th matriculation ceremony at the Confluence University of Science and Technology (CUSTECH), Osara, left disappointed after the event proceeded on time, in line with the university’s commitment to rejecting the concept of “African Time.”
Our correspondent reports,who covered the event reports that despite some attendees arriving late, Prof. Abdulrahman Asipita Salawu, the Vice Chancellor of CUSTEC, insisted the ceremony would commence promptly as scheduled, emphasizing the importance of time management.
According to the programe of events,matriculants were expected to arrive between 8:00 a.m. and 8:30 a.m., with the opening procession of principal officers slated to begin from 8:30 a.m. to 8:50 a.m.
True to the schedule, at exactly 8:50 a.m., the Vice Chancellor led his team of principal officers to the high table and instructed the Master of Ceremony, Mr. Austyn Ochu, to begin the event by leading the singing of the national anthem, which took place from 8:50 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.
The proceedings followed meticulously, with the introduction of principal officers from 9:00 to 9:20 a.m.,by the MC, followed by the administration of the matriculation oath by the Registrar from 9:20 to 9:40 a.m.
The Vice Chancellor delivered his address between 9:40 a.m. and 9:55 a.m.
After a brief announcement from 9:55 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., the national pledge was recited, marking the conclusion of the event at 10:10 a.m as scheduled.
As news spread throughout the university community that the event was proceeding as scheduled, many late-arriving students hurried to the venue for matriculation.
Sone parents, who arrived early for the matriculation ceremony but couldn’t find their children in their seats, were seen angrily calling them on the phone, their voices rising in frustration.
In his address, the Vice Chancellor underscored the significance of time management, urging the new students to incorporate this vital skill into their academic journey to ensure their success.
Parents and guardians ,who were at the event on time,expressed their approval of the Vice Chancellor’s decision to avoid the typical delays associated with public events. Many of them commended him for challenging the persistent cultural practice of “African Time,” a habit often seen in public functions.
A total of 1,867 students were officially matriculated during the ceremony.
According to a sophisticated AI language model, developed by OpenAI, African Time” is a colloquial term often used to describe a cultural attitude toward time and punctuality in many parts of Africa.
The language model adds that it reflects a more relaxed or flexible approach to timekeeping, where events or appointments may not start exactly at the scheduled time, and delays are generally accepted as part of daily life.
