Metrology Education Impediment in Developing Countries Considering the Case of Nigeria

Metrology is practised every day, often unknowingly. It is used in the design and production of almost everything we encounter daily, from the cell phones in our pockets to the walls of our homes. Metrology is everywhere, but metrologists are few and most curricula in technical fields don't even mention the subject. How, then, do metrologists get an education? This paper aims to address metrology education in developing countries, to enhance developing countries’ awareness of the significance of metrology education and the need for it to be introduced into universities academic curricula.

Educational institutions in developing countries are found to be generally weak in the area of metrology. To demonstrate the level of metrology education in developing countries, Nigeria has been used as a case study. Research which examined knowledge related to metrology in general, flow and legal metrology was conducted across six Universities. Assessment of the students revealed they substantially lacked the abilities required in all area of metrology knowledge.

Considering the vast benefit of metrology (Benefits of Metrology by Birch, 2003), this paper therefore recommends that the curricula of engineering schools, technical universities and other special training institutes should contain at least some basic courses on metrology. Also recommended is the formation of consortia of institutions comprised of educational institutions, industry practitioners, and regulators. This paper also highlights the requirement for a suitable metrology education for practitioners within statutory bodies.