Choosing a training course or where and who to train with - for an ad-hoc training - or more particularly as a training partner - could be a tricky decision.
First, due to ease of entry and absence of any regulatory framework guiding training business, training firms abound out there who do not exercise due professionalism and integrity in their training delivery processes. Second, delivering effective training is highly involving and requires deep competencies and rare specialist skills in course development, instructional design, delivery and post-delivery. Third, methodology plays a world of role in whether a training will deliver the right value or not. For instance, management, leadership and soft-skills training –usually the easy targets - have moved from the traditional classroom instructional methodology to sophisticated learning methods of gamification, simulation and role-playing. Regrettably, a whole lot of trainings are still restricted to traditional classroom instructional presentations.
The question then is – what important factors should be considered when choosing a particular training or a training provider. We have chosen 5 factors which we consider highly important when choosing a training consulting firm in Nigeria or any other country for that matter.
1. Uniqueness of Proposition.

What is the organisation committed to? What makes this firm different from others? Is the proposition genuine or it’s merely a sales bait? Is it a big company living on past glory or a small company of big thinkers? Training managers who desire to have the best for their staff should do more than look on the surface while assessing the organisation to entrust the training of their staff to. Going a step further to evaluate the uniqueness of the organisation may make a lot of difference on Return on Training Investment (ROTI).

2. Course Content Authenticity & Relevance

Training is more or less commoditised today. It’s a time in history when courses are traded from one company to another, and knowledge-sharing e.g Slideshare makes content on virtually every knowledge area easily available. You need to beware of “training mongers” who’ve not really taken time to uniquely develop courses based on knowledge and commitment but merely pick resources from here and there solely for pecuniary reasons.
Furthermore, consider if the courses are customised enough to directly address your skills gap or your company’s current and projected future challenges. One-size-fits-all course contents and irrelevant case studies still abound in classroom in Nigeria and indeed across the world.

3. Experience of the firm and the facilitators
The importance of this speaks for itself. The principle of nemo dat quod non habet i.e. no one can give what they do not have instructively applies in this. For example, a trainer of business management must not just be good theoretically but must have been actively involved and experienced in the process managing businesses. Experiential knowledge combined with subject matter knowledge enhances quality delivery. Going a step further to profile organizers and facilitators of training courses provides insight into the quality expected.

4. Depth of Methodology

Training managers should be very particular about the approach and methodology for the delivery of the training. They should indeed make prospective trainers demonstrate – perhaps formally commit to – a documented learning journey methodology. To be effective, every training must have components of pre-training assessment and post-training engagement. Such an approach demonstrates the importance that a training firm’s places on participants’ learning journey. Research has shown that what is learnt in class may easily be lost when there isn’t adequate preparation for the class and there’s isn’t post-training engagement. Progress tracking should form part of a trainer’s delivery.

5. Quality of Communication Materials

Truly, the taste of the pudding is in the eating, but by a small sample we may judge the whole piece. A firm’s general presentation; particularly in form of their communication materials goes a long way in telling what quality they are made of and how much emphasis they will place on delivering quality. It must be a good practice to require training firms you’re are considering partnering with to make a few minutes’ presentation on their capabilities. This will likely give you some hints on how well they mean business.


Overall, the next time you need to choose a training or select a training partner, prepare a checklist that’s beyond the traditional. Incorporate elements of the above points in a way that will yield optimal benefits to your staff and organisation.


Bizarch Consulting is a multi-specialty management consulting firm in Nigeria with strong competencies in business strategy, recruitment and training. For more on Training, visit www.bizarchconsulting.com/training