By Ozioruva Aliu

BENIN CITY — A coalition of consultants has expressed concern over the scarcity of consultancy services in the South-South region, saying the gap has contributed to unresolved administrative, employment, and operational challenges across various sectors.

Speaking at the Benin Consultants Convention themed “Adapt and Advance,” Convener Ogaga Omo-Ovie . said Edo State and the wider region are grappling with problems that professionals in the consulting industry are well-positioned to solve.

“This convention is the second edition, and the reason for it is to open Edo State and the South-South to the business of consultancy,” he said. Omo-Ovie noted that despite the presence of numerous businesses — including schools, hotels, malls, and retail outlets — many continue to face staffing, revenue, and operational issues that require expert intervention.

“We have a short supply of consulting in the South-South. That is why we asked consultants to raise awareness and help ignite passion for the consulting industry,” he added.

He also clarified the distinction between consulting and training. According to him, consulting involves diagnosing a problem and proposing solutions, while training is an intervention aimed at solving a problem. “Some people just train without diagnosing the problem, and that is why the training doesn’t work,” he said. “If you don’t diagnose the problem properly and you go ahead to train, you will have problems.”

Omo-Ovie said he hopes the convention will drive growth in the consulting sector in Edo State.

Resource persons at the event also shared insights.

Susan Charles from Port Harcourt discussed strategic approaches to addressing organisational challenges, stressing the importance of root cause analysis. She noted that many businesses fail because owners address symptoms rather than underlying issues.

Another facilitator, Gbenga Totoyi, urged participants to cultivate a habit of regular reading, saying it helps consultants discover new ideas and improve their problem-solving capacity.