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That most Nigerians love and adore titles is not in question. One could incur the wrath of a ‘big man’ if while he is being addressed, one of his titles is erroneously omitted. I think it is an abuse of decency for one to be addressed by a portfolio of titles especially where the titles are unmerited. It is even becoming embarrassing that some universities confer doctorate degrees on some individuals while postgraduate programmes are yet to commence in those universities. That is the extent to which the craze for titles has degenerated. You have the cash and the title is yours.
For many persons who lack the wherewithal and the clout required to have degrees or other titles conferred on them, the registration of professional organizations is a ready option. This has given rise to the demand for ‘chartered statuses’ for many ill-conceived professional organizations. Many desires to belong to one professional organization or the other just for the sake of the title and the associated status without willing to pay the price. Consequently, bills seeking ‘chartered statuses for ‘this’ and ‘that’ professional organizations besiege the National Assembly and public hearings are held regularly in respect thereof. I was present in one of the public hearings a few days ago at the National Assembly. The arguments for and against the bills presented suggest that the sponsors lack the knowledge of the subject matter of the bills and yet blithely expect them to be favourably considered. One would have expected anyone sponsoring a bill to have done some detailed research to ascertain the status of the subject matter of the bill. It was also evident that some invited persons and organs of government spoke out of both sides of the mouth and thus failed to take any position on the bills. There is the need to resist the destructive temptation to be tactful and instead display the courage to take an unambiguous stand on the desirability or otherwise of any bill. It is, however, commendable that the National Assembly is not supine in handling the proceedings during the public hearings.
The current scenario calls for a re-definition of who a professional is. Ordinarily, a professional is one who belongs to a professional organization. This is considered too simple to be realistic and begs the question of true professionalism. It should not be sufficient to be a professional simply because one has passed the qualifying examination of a particular professional body or because one has been conferred with membership by virtue of being a foundation or pioneer member of the body. It should be that one is recognized a professional because he has met the requirements of the profession in terms of knowledge and competence and he is practicing in accordance with the laid down rules and regulations. Only good heads should be professionals and not morons with barren credentials of professionalism. There should be no space for ‘un-lookers’ in any professional organization.
In Nigeria today, we have various professions with thousands of members going about with the titles of those professions. In fact, we should be ashamed of these titles that do not entitle us to anything of value such as good roads, hospitals, schools, electricity, security, water, sanitation, food, clothing and all of it. We are in the grip of proliferation epidemic of professional bodies. There is the need to extricate the country from the grip through a legislation barring persons from being addressed by their professional titles. We have persons who are lamentably corrupt in Nigeria and as lucrative as corruption is, no one bears any title in it and yet it is exported creatively and with high-level ingenuity. No one or group or persons have come forward to register it as a professional organization with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC). There is, therefore, no one openly sponsoring a bill to ‘charter’ corruption even though it has long been ‘chartered.’ But if anyone does, I shall witness the public hearing and probably raise my voice in unison for daring to do act the devil can only dare to think. It is evident that we can do away with titles and even be more qualitative in our thinking and productive in our endeavours.
We have the solutions to our challenges right in our palm. But I guess we are waiting to be ‘titled’ before we take hold of them. Let’s professionalize and not proliferate. Proliferation will rob professions of their meanings and relevance. Not much of research is required to understand that the insatiable appetite for professional status and titles is crowding out excellence. There are vibrant professional bodies with a good following for their academic and technical feck which those seeking to register their professional bodies should endeavour to align with. A situation that will lead the country, not with meritocracy but mediocrity in the professional space, will, in the long run, be injurious to all and sundry.
If therefore, we have the courage to enact a law barring people from being addressed by their professional titles, the crave for bills seeking chartered status will reduce and the National Assembly will have peace as public hearings will reduce too. In fact, every area of life, from economics to politics will heave a sigh of relief as persons will only be recognized by the diligent and productive works of their brains and hands. Methink proliferation of professional organizations in Nigeria is a bad omen and evidence of irresponsibility.
Francis Iyoha
Professor Iyoha is of the Department of Accounting, Covenant University and Research Fellow, the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN). He wrote viafoiyoha@ican.org.ng
