Problems of engineering education and training in developing countries: Nigeria as a case study

Abstract

Technological advancement serves as a major key to a nation's development. On the other hand, proper engineering knowledge (acquired through appropriate structures) plays a major role in the attainment of a high level of technological advancement. Most developing countries find it difficult to impact adequate knowledge and training to engineers at different levels of training. An overview of the problems militating against proper engineering education in Nigeria is taken in this paper. The paper identifies poor funding, inadequate equipment, students' population explosion (without commensurate facilities), lack of high-quality manpower (in terms of trainers or teachers), inadequate industrial training and poor attitude of employers as the dominant problems faced by engineering education in Nigeria. The paper, in addition to finding solutions to the above problems, recommends better remuneration for practising engineers, appropriate government policy and disposition and intervention of professional and international bodies (through provision of financial and material assistance) for assisting in the training and practice of engineers in Nigeria and in order that the country may achieve meaningful development comparable with foreign countries.