As professional development increasingly becomes a prerequisite for career progression in Nigeria, a growing number of professionals are falling victim to a concerning phenomenon: predatory professional bodies.
These are self-styled ‘institutes’ or ‘chartered bodies’ that operate without regulatory oversight, credible recognition, or professional legitimacy. Their proliferation not only dilutes professional standards but also preys on the aspirations of ambitious individuals looking to enhance their CVs or gain industry relevance.
These organisations make it deceptively easy and swift to attain certifications, feeding on the impatience and ambition of emerging professionals who crave titles and designations, even when the substance is lacking due to the absence of rigour in conferring such titles.
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What makes a body ‘Predatory’?
A predatory professional body is typically a for-profit enterprise masquerading as a certifying authority. They operate without regulatory oversight, credible recognition, or professional legitimacy. Common characteristics include:
Lack of regulatory recognition from government ministries or global authorities
Offering dubious designations like “Doctorates” without academic accreditation
Operating from suspicious locations such as hotels or shared office spaces
Using emotive marketing rather than verifiable career benefits
These organisations thrive on deception, ambiguity, and a lack of due diligence among young professionals.
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Key questions to ask
Recognition: Is this body recognised by government ministries or global authorities?
Leadership: Where do industry leaders and top executives obtain their certifications?
Track record: How long has this organisation been operating with credible results?
Global standards: Does this body have reciprocal arrangements with international equivalents?
Transparency: Are their governance structures and credentials publicly verifiable?
Red flags to watch out for
Young organisation
A reputable professional body typically has decades of track record. Why would a body claiming to represent HR, accounting, law, or finance in Nigeria be less than 10 years old? That’s a red flag. HR, for instance, is not a new profession, yet some of these bodies were formed only recently, with no founding members from respected industry veterans.
No recognition from industry leaders
Ask yourself: what professional associations do the Chief Human Resource Officers (CHROs) of Nigeria’s top 20 companies belong to? If your so-called “institute” isn’t one of them, that tells you all you need to know. For HR in Nigeria, for instance, CIPM is the industry-recognised minimum, with reciprocal arrangements with global bodies like the UK’s CIPD.
Questionable academic claims
Any doctoral title outside a recognised university system is null and void. No ‘institute’ can legally issue Master’s or Doctorate degrees in Nigeria or abroad without university accreditation. If the supposed leader of the body introduces themselves as ‘Dr’ but obtained the title through a weekend seminar or internal award, that is a serious warning.
Conflicting institutional names and bank accounts
It is not uncommon for the bank account name and that of the institution to differ. Watch out for subtle deceits. Such inconsistency reveals either legal obfuscation or a deliberate attempt to confuse. Check the footnotes and incorporation documents; many are simply limited guarantee companies, not legally chartered or academic institutions.
Weak or unknown council membership
A legitimate professional body should be governed by industry-recognised professionals and include figures from Tier One universities or leading firms. If the council is made up entirely of academics from lesser-known institutions with no real industry footprint, their ability to drive policy or shape standards is deeply compromised.
Shady office locations
Does the body operate from a hotel conference room, unmarked location, or rented flat in a residential area? That’s not where professional institutions are located. For example, CIPM operates from a dedicated office building on CIPM Avenue, Central Business District, Alausa, right across from Lagos State Secretariat. That signals credibility.
Flashy titles, no substance
Beware of bodies that hand out fellowships or honorary doctorates for fees or brief appearances. True fellowship in any credible organisation is earned over time, with demonstrated contribution to the field. Pay-to-play credentials are professionally useless.
Consequences of associating with a predatory body
Career damage
HR departments in top firms now actively screen memberships and certifications for legitimacy. Associating with a fake body could undermine your professional reputation.
Financial loss
Many of these organisations charge hefty registration and membership fees with no long-term value.
Legal exposure
Using unaccredited titles (like ‘Dr’ or ‘Chartered’) conferred by unrecognised institutions may contravene Nigerian law or global credentialing norms.
What should professionals do instead
Verify recognition
Check if the body is recognised by Nigeria’s Ministry of Education, National Universities Commission (NUC), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE), or global equivalents.
Follow the leaders
Look at where respected professionals and senior executives are getting certified. If none of them belong to this body, ask why.
Ask for global equivalence
Does the body have mutual recognition or reciprocity with CIPD (UK), SHRM (US), IFAC, ACCA, or similar global benchmarks?
Inspect the constitution
A real professional body is governed by an Act of Parliament or Royal Charter, not just CAC registration.
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Review their publications and standards
Real institutions publish standards, journals, or policy advisories. Find out what the body has published recently.
Due diligence is your best defence
As professional bodies multiply across Nigeria and Africa, professionals must apply the same due diligence to their affiliations as they would in vetting job offers or investment schemes. Ask the hard questions. Verify claims. Seek recognised benchmarks.
In the age of misinformation, the price of ignorance is your credibility. A professional is only as strong as the institutions they align with. Choose wisely.
