Crisis of Professionalism in Nigeria's Education System

Meta Description: This article explores the decline of professionalism among certified experts in Nigeria, analyzing the flaws in the education system and advocating for urgent reforms to foster skill-driven passion and integrity. Abstract This article examines the pervasive lack of professionalism among many certified professionals in Nigeria, with a focus on Lagos. It analyzes how the systemic flaws of the Nigerian formal education system, characterized by theoretical overload and practical deficiency, have cultivated a generation of paper-qualified, passionless individuals. It further investigates the resulting incompetence across critical professions like medicine, engineering, and law, and offers recommendations for real reform. Introduction In contemporary Nigerian society, the term "professional" often evokes irony rather than confidence. This contradiction lies in the growing trend of so-called professionals who boast impressive academic credentials and titles but deliver dissatisfactory, sometimes fatal results in practice. There is an alarming disconnect between educational qualifications and real-world professional competence. What has gone wrong in a nation teeming with renowned universities and graduates? The answer points to a systemic abysmal failure in the country’s educational philosophy and a dangerous neglect of passion-driven, skill-oriented learning. While Nigeria continues to produce more graduates with impressive academic accolades, there remains a visible gap in practical expertise, passion, and commitment to professional excellence. This piece uses Lagos as a case study to discredit how Nigeria's obsession with paper qualifications has created a professional culture that values payment over proficiency, titles over talent, and appearance over authentic impact. Overview: When Education Breeds Incompetence The crux of the problem lies within Nigeria's formal education structure, which is heavily skewed toward theoretical instruction at the expense of practical engagement. Nigeria’s tertiary institutions frequently reward rote mastery of theory—exams, certificates, titles, memberships—over real-world problem-solving. This over-reliance on certificates as symbols of competence breeds a culture of mediocrity. Students are more focused on graduating with first-class honors than on mastering their craft. In many institutions, internships and industrial attachments are treated as mere formalities, often faked or neglected entirely. As a result, young professionals are thrust into the labor market ill-equipped, forcing employers to either retrain them extensively or suffer the consequences of their incompetence. Generally, the typical Nigerian school system from primary to tertiary levels, particularly public institutions, has long been criticized for its overemphasis on rote memorization and abstract theory based on the school curriculum. Students are expected to pass exams based on regurgitated textbook content rather than develop practical skills or critical thinking abilities. Laboratory equipment is outdated, apprenticeship opportunities are scarce, and there is no proper career guidance and counseling awareness, with professional mentorship almost non-existent. This educational model has led to the mass production of degree holders who lack the proficiency to apply their knowledge in real-life situations. For instance, it is not uncommon to encounter engineers who cannot interpret basic blueprints, teachers who fail to engage students innovatively, or accountants who struggle with digital bookkeeping. These shortcomings are not simply individual failures but symptoms of a deeper systemic malaise.

A growing body of research finds that the disconnect between “what is taught” and “what is practiced” undermines the nation’s professional standards. In education, for example, 66.7% of surveyed academics agreed that Nigerian graduates must obtain professional certificates to be seen as relevant—yet many still cannot demonstrate applied expertise in their disciplines. The result is an ecosystem that rewards certifications over competence. Graduates enter the workforce with degrees but lack the basic skills required to perform their jobs. Employers, desperate to fill roles, often settle for these inadequately trained candidates. In this context, mediocrity becomes normalized, and professional development stagnates. Formal professionalization efforts have likewise fallen short. Professionalism for Pay, Not Purpose Another glaring issue is the commodification of professionalism. In Lagos, as in many other parts of Nigeria, many professionals render their services purely for remuneration, not as a reflection of skill, passion, or ethical obligation. This pay-first mentality permeates professions across the board—from healthcare to education, construction to law. Doctors neglect patients unless bribed, artisans abandon projects mid-way for better-paying jobs, and public officers delay duties until their palms are greased. The result is a loss of trust in professional services and a cycle of inefficiency, frustration, and corruption. Case Study: The Lagos Experience In Lagos, the consequences of this broken system are glaring. In a handful of hospitals, doctors misdiagnose or prescribe the wrong treatments, sometimes with fatal outcomes. A recent incident involved a certified medical doctor prescribing an inappropriate drug to a patient suffering from a gastrointestinal issue. The patient, trusting the doctor's authority, took the medication and died within hours. Investigations later revealed that the doctor had little passion for the field and had chosen medicine simply because it was a prestigious course. Another stark illustration unfolded in September 2023 when a popular Afrobeat star artist died after receiving three injections from an assistant nurse. These tragic cases underscore how unbridled reliance on formal titles, rather than demonstrated competence and passion, threatens lives. In the health sector, the chasm between theoretical knowledge and practical judgment can be deadly. According to health-worker surveys, nearly 50% of recorded deaths in Nigerian hospitals, with the majority from Lagos, are linked to unsafe medication practices and prescription errors. A cross-sectional study of Nigerian medical errors confirmed that 95.2% of practitioners admitted to prescription mistakes, with many lacking the applied pharmacological understanding to foresee adverse reactions. Similarly, in civil engineering and construction, the stakes are equally high. Local construction sites are riddled with errors made by civil engineers who choose to bend to clients' budgetary demands rather than uphold structural safety standards. For instance, an engineer accepted substandard materials for a foundation project in Ikeja simply because the client insisted. Days later, part of the building collapsed. When questioned, the engineer defended his decision with the now-too-common excuse: "Na wetin the client been want."

A church collapsed in December 2016, killing dozens when its unfinished steel-frame roof gave way during a service. Investigations found there was no approved architectural drawing, inadequate structural supports, and unlicensed contractors cutting corners—yet the project proceeded due to lax oversight and professionals more eager for fees than safety. The education sector is another disheartening example. Teachers, though certified, frequently lack the pedagogical skills to inspire or educate effectively. They rely on outdated methods, recycle past questions, and sometimes even demand bribes to pass students. Even in public administration, professionalism is frequently compromised. Government offices are populated by staff more concerned with closing hours than delivering public service. Civil servants lack training in basic customer relations, digital literacy, or policy implementation. All of these stem from a fundamental absence of pride in one's work, passion for excellence, and proper mentorship. These examples underscore a deeper, more troubling reality: professionals who are trained to uphold ethics and standards are now driven by survival, peer pressure, or materialism. Experts blame a “vacuum in regulatory implementation” and a culture where client demands (and payments) override professional recommendations for safety and structural integrity. They prioritize money over mastery, deadlines over diligence, and shortcuts over solutions. The consequence is a stagnation of development, an erosion of public trust, and a youth population disillusioned by the seeming futility of diligence and integrity. This widely leads to the emergence of poor leadership roles in leading organizations and corporate bodies, as well as bad governance in the nation. Analysis: The Cultural and Economic Undercurrents This plague of pseudo-professionalism is not accidental. Nigeria’s economic hardship plays a pivotal role. Graduates spend years unemployed, and when they finally secure jobs, survival becomes the primary motivation. With a deeply flawed reward system, people enter professions not because they are passionate or talented, but because they seek financial stability. Moreover, there is a cultural glorification of certificates. Parents pressure children to become doctors, lawyers, or engineers not because the children are naturally inclined, but because these professions bring respect and social status. Unfortunately, these students grow into adults who hate their jobs but cling to them because they’ve invested too much time and money. There is also a massive failure in regulatory institutions. Professional bodies that should enforce standards often look the other way or become complicit in malpractice. Licensing exams are passed through bribery or favoritism, and disciplinary actions are rarely enforced. A Call for a New Educational and Professional Paradigm Solving this crisis requires a radical transformation of Nigeria's educational philosophy and professional culture. First, academic institutions must integrate more experiential learning into their curriculum. Internship programs, technical workshops, vocational training, and real-world simulations should become mandatory components of education at all levels. Evaluation should extend beyond exams to include portfolios, projects, and community impact. Students should be encouraged to explore their passions early on, with career counseling, mentorship programs, and practical orientation sessions guiding their path. Secondly, professional bodies must rise to the task of regulation and development. Continuous professional development should be a requirement for license renewal in every field. Ethics and service delivery training must be institutionalized, and whistle-blower systems should be created to expose malpractice. Moreover, there must be consequences for unethical or substandard professional behavior, with sanctions publicly communicated to serve as deterrents.

The government also has a role to play. Policies must prioritize quality education and service delivery over political appointments and nepotism. Investments should be made in teacher training, infrastructure, and digital education. At the state level, Lagos can lead by example by establishing a state-wide standard for professional qualification, launching skill acquisition hubs, and incentivizing quality service delivery through awards, promotions, and public recognition. Conclusion: Reclaiming the Soul of Professionalism The crisis of professionalism in Nigeria, particularly in Lagos, is not just a failure of individual character but a systemic collapse rooted in our approach to education and societal values. Nigeria must wake up to the dangerous consequences of its current approach to professional development. Reform must begin from the foundation—our schools. Practical training, internships, mentorship, and skills acquisition should become cornerstones of all academic programs. Universities must collaborate with industries to create a curriculum that balances theory with hands-on experience. At the same time, regulatory bodies must be restructured to enforce ethical standards strictly. Professionals should undergo periodic retraining and be subjected to independent audits of their work. Penalties for malpractice must be swift and publicized to serve as deterrents. Lastly, societal attitudes must change. We must stop celebrating paper and start honoring passion, precision, and purpose. Until we create a society where value and expertise are rewarded over empty accolades, the crisis of professionalism will continue to haunt our nation. Call to Action: What are your thoughts on the state of professionalism in Nigeria? Have you experienced the impact of the education system on professional practice? Share your experiences and insights in the comments below!