Makeda Solomon Calls for Excellence and Time Discipline at OurNigeria Awards 2024
Jerry Adesewo
The 6th edition of the OurNigeria Awards witnessed a powerful and thought-provoking speech by Makeda Solomon, a Jamaican actress and National Service Excellence Coach, who captivated the audience with her reflections on “Excellence: Good, Better… Best.”
Delivered to a tumultuous reception, her address challenged Nigerians, Africans and Jamaicans, to embrace excellence as a personal and collective responsibility, particularly in the area of time management.
Speaking at the prestigious event themed “Nigeria Rising: Celebrating Excellence & Charting the Future,” Makeda opened with a poignant acknowledgment of her African heritage, noting that while she could not trace her direct ancestry to Nigeria, she identified as an “African twice removed” due to the forced displacement of her ancestors. This unique perspective, she said, allowed her to view Nigeria’s potential from the outside, providing insights that might be overlooked by those immersed in its daily realities.
At the heart of her address was the call to redefine excellence. She shared a lesson from her late mother: “There is always Good, Better, and Best.”
Drawing from her experience as a former Advisor to the Jamaican government on achieving excellence in the public sector, Makeda equated excellence with the relentless pursuit of “being the best at something.” She emphasised that striving for excellence is a learned behaviour, often passed down through generations and reflected in collective societal norms.
A particularly striking moment in her speech was her discussion on time management, which she described as the “proverbial elephant in the room.” She recounted her experiences in Nigeria where she often hurried to events only to be told not to rush, as attendees would be arriving on “Nigerian Time.” She pointed out that this cultural acceptance of tardiness was not exclusive to Nigeria but also existed in Jamaica, where “Jamaican Time” functioned as a euphemism for lateness.
However, she noted a remarkable contrast: Nigerians and Jamaicans living in the UK adhered strictly to punctuality, adjusting their habits immediately upon arrival. This, she argued, proved that the concept of “African Time” is not an inherent trait but a learned behaviour that can be changed. She urged Nigerians to reflect on whether this norm truly represented the nation’s best self and encouraged the audience to challenge societal habits that stifle excellence.
“Nigeria matters, and she is rising!” Makeda declared. She called on individuals and institutions to take personal responsibility for the nation’s progress, urging Nigerians to commit to breaking ingrained habits that undermine productivity and efficiency.
To drive home her message, she issued a 30-Day Timekeeping Challenge, encouraging Nigerians to consciously commit to arriving, calling, and delivering on time. She explained that neuroscience suggests it takes 28-30 days to rewire neural pathways and form new habits. By setting a daily reminder upon waking—“By the Grace of God / Inshallah, I will adhere to real time, not Nigerian Time today”—individuals could cultivate a culture of timeliness, leading to increased productivity and self-improvement.
Makeda concluded with a reminder that time is finite, and how it is spent defines a person’s and a nation’s legacy. She invoked the words of Marcus Garvey, urging Nigerians to embrace excellence not just for themselves, but for the love of their children, grandchildren, and future generations.
Her speech, met with a standing ovation, left the audience deeply inspired. The OurNigeria Awards 2024, which honours individuals and institutions exemplifying excellence, could not have found a more fitting voice to challenge Nigerians to rise beyond mediocrity and embrace a culture of time-consciousness, discipline, and national pride.
As Nigeria charts its future, Makeda’s call to “Good, Better, Best” serves as a timely reminder that the nation’s greatness is tied not just to visionary leadership but also to the everyday choices of its people.
Present at the event are the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, ably represented by a former Minister of the FCT, Dr. Aliyu Modibbo; Business mogul, Dr. Umar Abdul Mutallab; Governor of Jigawa State, Mallam Umar Namadi; former Governor of Kano State, Dr. Rabiu Kwakwanso, former Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Tukur Yusuf Buratai (Rtd) and a host of other signatories and international guests from Botswana, Saudi Arabia, Cameroon and Niger.