CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Background

Training is a key factor in enhancing the efficient expertise of the workforce. The
student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) program prepares students for
labor markets.

It has become an innovative phenomenon in human resources development in

Nigeria. The student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is a skill training
program designed to expose students and prepare them from various academic
fields for the industrial work challenges which they are likely to meet after
graduation.

1.2History of Student Industrial Work Experience (SIWES)

The ITF was established in 1971 and was charged with human resources
development and training. Following the establishment of ITF, student industrial
work experience (SIWES) commenced in 1974 with aims of making education
more relevant and to bridge the yawning gap between the theory and practice
knowledge of students from various institutions.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF), solely funded the scheme during its formative
years however, as the financial involvement became unbearable to the fund, it
withdrew from scheme in 1978. The Federal Government handed over the scheme
in 1979 to both the National University Commission (NUC) and the National
Board for Technical Education (NBTE). Later the Federal Government in
November 1984 revolted the management and implementation of the SIWES
program to ITF.
Since then, it has been effectively taken over by the ITF in July 1985 with the
funding being taking care of by the Federal Government of Nigeria.
1.3 Aims and Objectives of SIWES

1. Provide students with the opportunity to apply their knowledge in real work
situation thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.

2. Mass production of competent workers.

3. Prepare students for the work situation which they are likely to meet after
graduation.

4. Provide an avenue for students to acquire industrial skills and experience in

their field of study.

5. Expose student to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and

machinery not available in their institution.

1.4 Role of SIWES

1. Provision of logistics needed to manage the scheme.

2. Supervising student and sign their log book with ITF forms.

3. Reviewing and researching into the scheme

4. Ensuring adequate funding of the scheme

5. Ensuring payment of allowances to the students and supervisors.

1.5 A Brief History of Nigerian Railway Corporation

The Nigerian Railway Corporation is over a hundred years old and it runs a
unilaterally designed track system of 1067mm cape gauge. Only 30km of its track
distribution is in double track and that is within Lagos.

Nigerian Railway System actually commenced rail business activities with the
construction of the first rail line from Lagos to Ibadan (193km) between 1898 and
1901. By 1964 when the construction of 640km Kano – Maiduguri rail line, then
known as Bornu extension, was completed, the present core of the railway network
had been put in place.

Nigerian Railway was transformed from its first and initial name ‘Government
Department of Railways’ to ‘Nigerian Railway Corporation’ in 1955 through the
instrumentality of the Statutory Act of Parliament which, apart from changing the
name of the railway industry in Nigeria, equally conferred on its absolute
monopoly as the institution recognised by law to carry out railway services.

The general aim and objective of the Statutory Act of Parliament of 1955 for
Nigerian Railway is to recognise same as carrying out its function of effecting;
carriage of passengers and goods in a manner that will offer full value for money;
meet cost of operation; improve market share and quality of services; ensure safety
of operations and maximum efficiency; meet social responsibility in a manner that
will meet the requirements of rail users, trade, commerce, industry and general
public.

The Headquarters of the Corporation is located at Ebute – Metta in Lagos while the
entire network is, for administrative conveniences, divided into seven autonomous
districts viz: Lagos (Ebute-Metta Junction), Western (Ibadan), Northern (Zaria),
Eastern (Enugu), North-Western (Minna), North-Central (Kafanchan), North-
Eastern (Bauchi).

The Railway System is presently undergoing some rehabilitation and

modernization with the full political and financial support of the Federal
Government through the Federal Ministry of Transport. The rehabilitation exercise
includes track spot renewal of Lagos to Kano and Maiduguri to Port Harcourt,
supply of 25 new locomotive engines to boost the existing motive power base of
the Corporation, upgrading of the signalling and telecommunication (S & T)
system from manual to semi-automatic, as well as the Carriage and Wagon
Workshops (C & W).

Equally, new railway lines are being constructed in Standard Gauge (1435mm).
These include: Ajaokuta – Warri Line of 277km: Kaduna – Abuja (Idu) Line of
186km while the scope of work for Lagos – Ibadan segment is under review.

Nigerian Railway Corporation, Ebute-Metta, Headquarters, Lagos

(Administrative Complex)
1.6 Organogram of the Nigerian Railway Corporation

CORPORATION
BOARD

MANAGING DIRECTOR

SEC TO THE CORP, LEGAL

D (A) D (O) D (C) D (M & E) D (F)

DD CORP. PLANNING

RAILWAY DISTRICT MANAGERS, EBJ,IB, AD, M & E

MX, ZRX,KAF, BCK AND EG

AD, ADMIN

AD, S & T

ACT U

SERVICOM UNIT