EVALUATION OF AWARENESS TOWARD INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY AS A CAREER PATH AMONG RADIOGRAPHY STUDENTS IN USMANU DAN FODIYO UNIVERSITY, SOKOTO

Abstract

Industrial radiography is an important non-destructive testing technique . However, in Nigeria, radiography education is largely focused on medical field, with little emphasis on industrial radiography. This study was therefore conducted to evaluate the level of awareness, perception, and career interest towards industrial radiography. Materials and methods The study employed cross-sectional survey design. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire distributed to radiography students in 300–500 levels. A total of 106 valid responses were analyzed using the Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS). Descriptive statistics such as frequencies and percentages were used to present the results in tables and charts Results: Findings revealed that although 73.6% of respondents had heard about industrial radiography, most (57.5%) rated their awareness as poor, and only 15.4% reported receiving sufficient information from lecturers. 74.5% agreed that industrial radiography is an important specialization, and 63.2% However 29.2% expressed definite interest in pursuing industrial radiography as a future career path,while 40.6% were uncertain. The major barriers identified were lack of awareness (60%) and limited training opportunities (21.9%). Conclusion This study concludes that the overall awareness of industrial radiography among radiography students in Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto is low even though their perception and attitude toward the field are highly positive. The findings suggest that poor curriculum inclusion, limited seminars, and lack of exposure contribute to this knowledge gap. However, students demonstrate strong recognition of industrial radiography’s importance and potential as a career path. Enhancing educational coverage and providing industrial training opportunities could greatly improve students’ understanding and interest in this specialization.