I think we’re fast losing this virtue called punctuality. These days, Gen Zs don’t give two Fs about time. The only time we suddenly become serious about keeping to time is when there’s punishment attached to it — an exam that won’t wait, a boss who will deduct salary, a lecturer who locks the door, or an interview that can cost us an opportunity. Remove the consequences, and everybody relaxes like time itself has no value. What’s even more worrying is how deeply this attitude has entered our culture. We now joke about lateness as if it’s a personality trait. “I’m on my way” has become a polite lie. Events never start when announced. Meetings drag endlessly because people stroll in whenever they like. We inconvenience others and call it normal. And sadly, it seems medical students are some of the worst culprits. You would expect people training for a profession where seconds can save lives to treat time with seriousness. The scary thing is that habits don’t magically disappear after graduation. The character we build as students often follows us into adulthood. If we constantly excuse lateness now, we may carry that same carelessness into our careers, relationships, and leadership positions. Punctuality is more than just arriving early. It is respect. Respect for people. Respect for commitments. Respect for purpose. When you consistently keep to time, you silently tell people, “Your life matters to me.” A nation where nobody respects time will always struggle with productivity, trust, and progress. And maybe that’s part of our problem in Nigeria. We have talent. We have intelligence. We have creativity. But too often, we lack discipline in the little things that build great societies. Time is one thing nobody can recover once lost. Money can return. Opportunities can come again. But wasted time is gone forever. Maybe the revival of Nigeria will not begin from giant speeches or political promises. Maybe it starts from ordinary people deciding that lateness is no longer fashionable, excuses are no longer cute, and punctuality should once again become a virtue worth admiring.
