Nigerian Dietitian Dismissed in UK Over False Qualifications, Competency Concerns

A Nigerian-born senior dietitian, Ifeyinwa Chizube Ndulue-Nonso, has been dismissed from her role in the United Kingdom after a tribunal found she misrepresented her qualifications and demonstrated serious gaps in basic medical knowledge.

Ndulue-Nonso was employed by Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust in February 2024 after scoring 62 percent during her interview. However, concerns about her competence reportedly surfaced within days of resuming duty.

According to tribunal findings, she admitted to exaggerating her experience during the hiring process, stating she had “lied over her qualifications a bit,” which she attributed to cultural differences.

Her supervisor, Lorna Haywood, raised alarm over what she described as “extremely concerning” knowledge gaps, noting that the issues involved fundamental aspects of human anatomy and clinical practice.

Among the reported errors, Ndulue-Nonso allegedly stated that urine is stored in the gallbladder and that radiotherapy is used to treat heart failure. She was also said to have struggled with calculating body mass index (BMI) and incorrectly identified parts of the digestive system.

Further concerns emerged when she reportedly admitted to lacking practical experience in key procedures she had claimed familiarity with, including intravenous feeding and the use of nutritional supplements. She was also said to have failed to recognise a feeding tube in a patient and was observed searching online for basic medical terms during work hours.

She was suspended in March 2024 pending an investigation into her credentials. Disciplinary proceedings later found that 20 out of the 28 areas of expertise she claimed were not supported by her actual knowledge or experience.

Following the outcome, she has been barred from practising as a registered dietitian in the UK.

The case has raised broader concerns about recruitment processes and verification of professional qualifications in the healthcare sector.