Innovation Deficit: 7 In 10 Nigerian Workers Lack Problem-Solving Training — Report
By DAVID JOHN-FLUKE
A new report by consulting firm Proten International has revealed that over 70% of Nigerian employees lack formal training in critical thinking and creative problem-solving—posing a major threat to workplace innovation and national competitiveness.
The study, Assessing Gaps in Critical Thinking and Creative Problem-Solving in Corporate Workforces, found that while 81% of employees say their jobs demand innovation, 71.5% report receiving little or no training in that area. The result, it notes, is a workforce “eager to innovate but constrained by rigid systems and lack of mentorship.”
Across industries, human resources (93.5%) and marketing (86%) teams show higher engagement in problem-solving, while finance (63.6%) and operations (66.7%) lag behind. Only 36% of professionals describe themselves as proactive problem-solvers, and 20% admit they rarely take initiative due to fear of criticism or bureaucratic pushback.
“The competitive edge of Nigerian companies will come from human thinking, not machines,” said Ujunwa Somtochukwu, Head of People and Administration at Giesecke+Devrient.
The report blames short-term management priorities and rigid hierarchies for stifling innovation. It urges companies to invest in creative leadership, psychological safety, and recognition systems that reward new ideas.
A 2024 World Bank study similarly ranked Nigeria among sub-Saharan Africa’s lowest for workplace innovation. Proten warns that unless firms reform their learning culture, the country risks losing young talent to markets that value creativity.
“The future of work in Nigeria depends not just on technology, but on how people are trained to think,” the report concludes.
