The practice environment of clinicians is one of communicative relationships. However, clinical education in many parts of the world, including Nigeria neglect adequate prequalification exposure to clinician-patient communication (CPC) skills. In this study researchers explored the exposures to clinician-patient communication (CPC) skills during prequalification education and the nature of professional training opportunities on CPC skills. Designed from the constructivist worldview and descriptive phenomenology approach, researchers conducted in-depth interviews one-on-one with 65 clinicians (physicians, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, nurses and midwives) from 21 of the 23 General Hospitals (GHs) in Benue State. Data analysis followed thematic procedure. Results show a lack of proper prequalification education exposure to CPC skills. Clinicians also lack professional training opportunities for developing CPC skills. Participants reported discordant experiences for and against prequalification educational exposure to CPC skills even within same departments, indicating a lack of policy framework or proper coordination on the subject matter across the clinical institutions and programmes that are producing the clinical workforce for the GHs. Researchers observed a disconnect between clinical education in the region and the sociomedical demands of the practice environment. The practice implication includes a lack of global standard protocols in clinical workforce development such as the Relationship-Centred Care for patient-centred care in Benue State. It also implies a practice environment where communication-related challenges may undermine quality of care. An overhaul is needed, involving a standardised, RCC-based revision of prequalification curricula amongst other things, to enhance core competency skills in line with the needs of the practice environment and global best practices.