CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAMME

1.1 Overview of SIWES

The Students' Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill
training program which enables students to acquire technical skills and experience
for professional development in their study.
It was established in 1973 by ITF (Industrial Training Fund) to address the issue of
tertiary institution graduates' lack of appropriate skills for employment by Nigerian
industries.
The scheme facilitates the transfer from the classroom to the world of work and
aids in the application of knowledge. The initiative allows students to become
acquainted with and exposed to the experience required in handling and operating
equipment and machinery often unavailable in their schools.
During its early years, the scheme was entirely funded by ITF. However, as the
financial engagement grew untenable, it withdrew from the scheme in 1978. In
1979, the Federal Government turned over the scheme to the National Universities
Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical Education (NBTE).
Later, in November 1984, the Federal Government restored management and
implementation of the scheme to ITF, and it was effectively taken over by the
Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in July 1985, with the Federal Government bearing
sole responsibility for funding.

Objectives of SIWES.
SIWES is strategized for skill acquisition. It is intended to prepare and expose
students from universities, polytechnics, and colleges of education to the real-life
employment situations they would face after graduation. As a result, SIWES is a
critical factor in injecting and sustaining industrialization and economic
development in the country through the introduction and practical training of
scientific and technological skills to students.
Objectives of the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme include:
Provide an avenue for students to acquire industrial skills for experience during
their course of study
Expose students to work methods and techniques that may not be available during
their course of study.
Bridging the gap between theory and practice by providing a platform to apply
knowledge learnt in school to real work situations
Enabling the easier and smoother transition from school by equipping students
with better contact for future work placement.
Introduce students to a real work atmosphere so that they know what they would
most likely meet once they graduate.

Importance of SIWES.
It enables students to acquire technical skills and experience for professional
development in their study. SIWES is essential for all Nigerian students studying
technology and science. According to the Nigerian government's educational
policy, participation in SIWES has become a prerequisite for the award of diploma
and degree credentials at many Nigerian institutions. The project is expected to
include undergraduate students from the following disciplines: natural sciences,
engineering technology, education, agriculture, medical sciences, environmental
sciences, and pure and applied sciences. The period is four months for polytechnic
students, one year for college of education students, and six months for university
students.
1.2 The Company’s Profile
Ministry of Works and Transports is located along Hamaruwa way Jalingo, Taraba
State. The Ministry of Works and Transport was established on 27th August, 1991
and is currently under the Leadership of Irimiya Hamman-Julde as Commissioner
and Engr. Tanko K. Audu as Permanent Secretary.

Functions of the Ministry

1. Responsible for the Engineering concept of all Government roads,
preparation of bills of quantity. Appraisal of Xander’s and Supervision of
same by contract and/or direct labour.
2. Mobilisation of human, material and financial resources for effective service
delivery.
3. Design, construction and maintenance of infrastructural facilities such as
roads and airports.
4. Coordinating land, air, and water transport activities.
5. Running the Jalingo township taxi schemes.
6. Plants and machinery acquisition, maintenance as well as certification of
Government vehicles and disposal.
7. Promoting safety of lives and properties on public roads, air and waterways.
8. Provision of laboratory services for civil engineering works.
9. Advice Government on issues relating to subject matters under the schedule
of the Ministry.
10.It has cabinet responsibility for its agencies.

1.3 The Company Organogram (ORGANIZATIONAL CHART)

CHAPTER TWO: THE TRAINING PROGRAMME

2.1 Specific Function of Departments in Establishment (MSL)

Technical Department:
This is the division of the organization that houses the many engineering
specialities. Mechanical and electrical disciplines, machining disciplines, materials
engineering disciplines, quality control disciplines, and maintenance disciplines are
only a few examples. 
This is the department I worked in during my SIWES training because it is one of
the most crucial because it is where the company gets things done.

Human Resources Department:

This is the department in charge of several of the company's essential functions.
They are in charge of ensuring that the company abides by labour laws (i.e. a
specific set of rules and regulations governing employment), they also carry out the
function of recruiting and training employees as needed, and they ensure that the
establishment's employees work at an optimum rate to increase the company's
efficiency.

Commercial Department:
This department is in charge of the company's financial and administrative duties.
Billing, revenue collection, procurement, expenditure management, and control are
examples of these. Other responsibilities include creating management and
financial reports for both internal and external users of information. This
department also oversees support tasks such as information technology and stock
control and management.

HSE Department:
The Health, Safety, and Environmental department is tasked with ensuring that the
establishment's staff always follow the safety rules and regulations in order to
avoid any hazardous occurrences throughout the course of work. 
To accomplish this, the HSE department improves staff awareness by holding
safety training every Wednesday.

CHAPTER THREE: EXPERIENCE GATHERED IN THE

ESTABLISHMENT.

3.1 Experience One: The Importance of Safety

The establishment that trained me made it very apparent why safety is so crucial
during the course of my SIWES training. It is perhaps more vital than the work we
do at the company because it can lead to deformity of a bodily part or even death if
not properly protected by adequate safety equipment.
I was trained for a month on the importance of safety and how to use my PPE
(Personal Protective Equipment) in the field of work.
I also learnt how to handle any occurrence in case of an emergency.

Experience Two: How Companies Work

During the course of my training, I got to understand to a large extent how
companies perform their functions. I learnt the systematic process of how an
employee is being recruited, trained and nurtured to fit in the company to perform
his/her duties efficiently.
I also learnt the importance of other departments in the company and how they
play a major role in aiding the company to accomplish tasks and deliver on jobs.

Experience Three: Importance of Calculation/Computation with Precision

During my SIWES training, I learnt the importance of accuracy in computation and
calculation. It is a very important skill to master as an engineer because a lot of
damage can be caused by a misinterpretation or miscalculation.
However, on the flip side, if done with accuracy and precision it would be a great
feat to achieve because you'll deliver well at jobs being taken up.

Experience Four: The importance of automated softwares

When I was on my training, it was made clear why certain softwares like AutoCad
was used so as to aid in the computation and calculation with high accuracy.
It was used so as to reduce the rate of inaccuracy in computation which maybe
high if it was done manually.
Overall, the importance of using automated softwares cannot be overemphasized
because they have become an industry standard of how work is being done in
various establishments.

Experience Five: Overall Experience

In all I learnt, it is also worth noting that I learnt how most of what of I learnt
during the course of my stay in school is relevant in the field of work and most
importantly how things work in real life.
It was a very essential experience to have acquired because in school, we do a lot
of theory but very little practical which I feel is an irony because in the field of
work, both of them are of equal importance and relevance.

CHAPTER FOUR: CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

4.1 Conclusion
To bring this technical report to an end, it would be worth noting that the
importance of SIWES training cannot be overstated as I've had the opportunity of
gaining experience which I wouldn't have gained of not for this life changing
opportunity.
In my own opinion, I think SIWES programme is a programme that has fulfilled its
purpose of existence and should be upheld by Universities, colleges and
Polytechnics as it equips students with relevant industry experience which would
be of a great advantage when seeking for jobs after school.

4.2 Challenges encountered during SIWES.

Lack of adequate orientation:

This was a challenge that I encountered when going for my SIWES training as
adequate orientation wasn't provided by the school. It became an issue during the
course of my training because I had a lot of questions to ask but had little of no
answers to guide me. To make matters worse, I contacted a number of my
classmates and they were as confused as I was which put us in a dilemma.

Lack of provision for students' SIWES training:

This was an issue I faced personally as I was saddles with the responsibility of
seeking where I would my SIWES training which was a hectic one. I initially had
the intention of doing my training at Shell Petroleum Company, but due to Covid-
19 and the way economic activities had gone down the hill, it was difficult to get a
spot at Shell and I had to start exploring different options so as to find a place
where I could do my SIWES training.
After applying to different companies, I had the opportunity of doing my training
at MSL.
I wasn't really glad because it meant I was going to do my training in a company
that was based mostly in Mechanical and Materials Engineering but I had no other
choice to take from.

Financial Challenges:
It won't be complete if I didn't note this as one of the challenges I faced during my
training.
I had the opportunity of staying in Port Harcourt with a relation, but my expenses
going to and fro from the company was totally funded by my parents which costed
quite a fortune because my establishment was quite distant from the place where
my relatiom resided.

4.3 Recommendation
Moving forward, I think it'll be great if students are being given proper orientation
of what the SIWES programme is, the importance and how they'll go about in
ensuring that at any point in time that they aren't left bewildered of what they are
meant to do.
It would be nice if ITF/SIWES can liaise with different establishments to aid in the
swift assigning of students to the establishment of training. This would save a bulk
of the work that a student has to do when looking for placement for SIWES
training and would also ensure that a student gets trained in his area of
specialisation.

Again, I suggest that if a student is being assigned a place of training, that he/she
be given some financial aid so as to support the student in ensuring that he/she gets
the adequate training that is required.

Reference