TECHNICAL REPORT ON

STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE

SCHEME (SIWES)

HELD AT

NATURE UNIFIED INTEGRATED LIMITED

BY

KAREEM SAMUEL OPEYEMI

MATRIC NO: 2220610022

SUBMITTED TO:

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL ENGINEERING,

FACULTY OF ENGINEERING,
OSUN STATE COLLEGE OF TECHNOLOGY,
ESA- OKE.

MARCH, 2024
 CERTIFICATION

I certify that this industrial attachment report is written by Sakariyau Toheeb Ayomide

No: 2220610033 Of Civil Engineering Department Osun State College of Technology, Esa-

Oke being the report of industrial training I undergone for the period of September 2023 to

December 2024. Four (4) months. The report present the true account of the Student Industrial

Work Experience Scheme (SIWES)

…………………………………….. ……………………………..
Student Signature Date

……………………………………….. ………………………………
LECTURER Date

…………………………………......... …………………………………
H.O.D Signature Date

…………………………………........... ………………………………….
I.L.P.O Signature Date
 DEDICATION

I dedicate this report to Almighty God who gave me strength to complete this work. Also to all

my beloved brother & sister, most especially my parents MR & MRS. KAREEM
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT

My utmost gratitude goes to the Almighty God for His infinite grace, blessing and mercy over

me for affording me sufficient input and encouragement to complete this training programme

and above all for sparing my life to this moment.

I sincerely appreciate my institution-based supervisor, MR. OYENIKE T.S for his worthy

contributions towards the successful completion of this programme.

I sincerely appreciate my parents MR. AND MRS. KAREEM for their moral

and financial support. My earnest prayer for them both is that they live long in good health to

enjoy the fruits of their labour in Jesus’ name (Amen).

 TABLE OF CONTENTS

TITLE PAGE i
CERTIFICATION ii
DEDICATION iii
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS v
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.0 STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)
1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE
1.2 HISTORY OF SIWES
1.3 BODIES INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SIWES
CHAPTER TWO

2.0 WORK EXPERIENCED AT THE PLACE OF ATTACHMENT

2.1 INTRODUCTION TO SITE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERIES
2.1.1 MATERIALS
2.1.2 EQUIPMENTS
2.1.3 MACHINERIES
2.2 EXCAVATION
2.2.1 EXCAVATION OF TRENCHES
2.2.2 TOOLS USED IN MANUAL METHOD OF EXCAVATION
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 WORKDONE
3.1 CHALLENGE OF SIWES
3.8 SOLUTIONS TO SIWES CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 CONCLUSION
4.1 RECOMMENDATION
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.0 STUDENT INDUSTRIAL WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), also known as Industrial
Training is a compulsory skills training programme designed to expose and prepare students of
Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Education, Colleges of Technology and
Colleges of Agriculture, for the industrial work situation they’re likely to meet after graduation.
The scheme also affords students the opportunity of familiarizing and exposing themselves to the
needed experience in handling equipment and machinery that are usually not available in their
institution.

Before the establishment of the scheme, there was a growing concern among industrialists, that
graduates of institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical background studies
preparatory for employment in industries. Thus, employers were of the opinion that the
theoretical education in higher institutions wasn’t responsive to the needs of the employers of
labour.

1.1 AIMS AND OBJECTIVE

1. To provide an avenue for students in the Nigerian universities to acquire industrial skills
and experience during their course of study;
2. To prepare students for the work situation they are likely to meet after graduation;
3. To expose the students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and
machinery that may not be available in their universities;

1.2 HISTORY OF SIWES

SIWES was established by ITF (Industrial Training Funds) in the year 1973 to solve the problem
of lack of adequate proper skills for employment of tertiary institution graduates by Nigerian
Industries. The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) was founded to be a skill
training programme to help expose and prepare students of universities, polytechnics and
colleges of education for the industrial work situation to be met after graduation. This scheme
serves as a smooth transition from the classroom to the world of work and further helps in the
application of knowledge. The scheme provides students with the opportunity of acquainting and
exposing themselves to the experience required in handling and managing of equipment and
machinery that are usually not made available in their institutions.

The ITF organization (Industrial Training Fund) made a decision to help all interested Nigerian
students and established the SIWES program. It was officially approved and presented by the
Federal Government in 1974. The scheme was solely funded by the ITF during its formative
years but as the financial involvement became unbearable to the fund, it withdrew from the
scheme in 1978. In 1979, the federal government handed over the management of the scheme to
both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the National Board for Technical
Education (NBTE).

1.3 BODIES INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SIWES

The bodies involved are:

• The Federal Government.

• Industrial Training Fund (ITF).

Other supervising agents are:

• National University Commission (NUC)

• National Board for Technical Education (NBTE)

• National Council for Colleges of Education (NCE)

The functions of these Agencies above include;

• Establish SIWES and accredit SIWES unit in the approved institutions.

• Formulate policies and guideline for participating bodies and institutions as well as appointing

SIWES coordinators and supporting staff

 CHAPTER TWO

2.0 WORK EXPERIENCED AT THE PLACE OF ATTACHMENT

I was introduced by my site supervisor to the construction site in general, the project manager,

and site engineers in charge of the on-going projects who further exposed me to proper site work.

2.1 INTRODUCTION TO SITE MATERIALS, EQUIPMENT AND MACHINERIES

In the process of my work experience program, I was introduced to various materials,

equipments and machineries used in the construction and development of a building.

2.1.1 MATERIALS

Example of materials used in building construction is as follows;

 Cement: This is a powdered substance that develops strong adhesive properties when
mixed with water. It is used in Block work, Plastering, Rendering and Concreting. The
establishment of Cement is achieved by burning a mixture of clay and chalk or limestone
in a kiln. A proportion of the raw materials in a definite proportion are converted into
liquid state by grinding, mixing and watering, termed Slurry. The slurry is then conveyed
through a set of pipes to rotary kiln which dry and burn the constituent in a high
temperature to form hard lumps. This process changes the slurry to hard lumps called
Clinker, which afterwards pass on through a conveyor belt to the grinding mills for
grinding to a fine powder in its final process. There are other types of cement made for
special purposes, including Rapid Hardening Portland Cement (RHPC), Sulphate
resisting Portland cement and Low Heat Portland Cement.
 Reinforcement: Reinforcement is provided in concrete structures to enhance its tensile
strength. Therefore in all structural elements, the reinforcement is provided in the region
of the element that will be subjected to tension. Standard bar diameters ~ 6, 8, 10, 12, 16,
20, 25, 32 and 40 mm.
 Aggregates: This consists of sand, ground crushed stone, pebbles, broken blocks and
similar such materials. Aggregates may either be light or heavy weight and also All-in-
Aggregates. Aggregates must be clean, structural sound, well graded, weather resistance
 and inert in the presence of water. Aggregates are of two types: Fine Aggregate; this
should be clean, sharp and passes through the sieve size of 4.5mm. Coarse Aggregate;
aggregate which consists largely of particles over 5mm in diameter. This is usually
gravel or crushed stones.
 Water Bars: A strip of rubber or plastic embedded into a sill or threshold to inhibit the
passage of water. The water bars were fixed into the reinforcements with the use of
Binding wire at the four edges/corners of the septic tank to avoid the passage of
Moisture.

2.1.2 EQUIPMENTS

The following are examples of various tools used in construction;

 Trowel: This is a flat metal blade fixed to a short handle used for the application,
jointing, smoothing and shaping of mortar in masonry. It is also used in the trimming of
block/bricks. Trowel sizes ranges from 225-350mm measuring from the blade.
 Spirit Level: This is a Hand-tool used for indicating true horizontal and vertical of a
work, by means of an air bubble sealed in a marked, liquid-filled glass tube mounted in a
frame; the tube is horizontal when the bubble is between two marks. Spirit levels are of
various length ranging from about 225mm to 1.2m.
 Straight Edge: The kind of straight edge that was used on the construction site is an
Aluminum frame of about 2m in length. The straight edge is used to check the fairness of
the newly laid piece of a wall and to ensure that all the blocks are laid to the same level
of each course.
 Iron Square: This is a hand tool of angle 90 which measures 600mm by 450mm long. It
is used for setting out walls at right angles to check for square nature of a section of
work.
 Hammer: A hammer is a tool consisting of a weighted head fixed to a long handle that
is swung to deliver an impact to a small area of an object.
 Head pan: This is a round container, like a bowl used in construction works. It is used to
transport mortal, concrete, fine or coarse aggregates.
  Shovel: A shovel is a tool resembling a spade with a broad blade and typically upturned
sides, used for moving earth or other materials. It is used for digging, lifting, and moving
bulk materials such as sand, soil or gravel.

2.1.3 MACHINERIES

The machineries that were used on site were brought into considerations so as to promote high
standards required particularly in the context of structural engineering works. Machineries are
used on site to eliminate heavy manual work thus reducing fatigue and as a consequence
increasing productivity. Such machineries that were used include;

 Tilting Drum Concrete Mixer: This is a type of concrete mixer with a rotating hinged
drum in which the constituent materials are mixed thoroughly and can be tilted to enable
emptying. Choice of Mixer ~ the factors to be taken into consideration when selecting the
type of concrete mixer required are …

1. Maximum output required (m3/ hour).

2. Total output required (m3).

3. Type or method of transporting the mixed concrete.

 Jack Hammer: This is a percussive power tool that combines a hammer and chisel used
for the drilling, breaking, demolishing and the digging of stone. During my attachment it
was used in the demolition/ leveling of the extended pile foundation for the septic tank in
the process of its excavation.
 Poker Vibrator: This consist of a hollow steel tube casing in which is a rotating impellor
which generates vibrations as its head comes into contact with the casing. It is immersed
in fresh concrete to provide compaction through gentle agitation, Roller Machine: This is
a compacting machine that provides a rolling compaction used for evening and flattening
of a freshly laid surface.
 Concrete pump: A concrete pump is a machine used for transferring liquid concrete by
pumping. It is a machine for the forced pumping of concrete mix through a conduit to the
location where it is to be placed.
2.2 EXCAVATION

Excavation is done to receive the foundation that will be constructed for the building.

2.2.1 EXCAVATION OF TRENCHES

Excavation is the digging of trenches for foundation. It is done along the foundation line of the
building to the required widthand depth that will be able to support the foundation and super-
imposed load of the building, when the setting out is completed and the profiles are in position,
the excavation can be started and could be done;

Excavation can be done using any of the two methods:

i) Manually: this is done with the help of diggers and shovel

ii) Mechanically: it is done with the help of excavator and back land depending on the volume of
excavations

FIGURE 1

2.2.2 TOOLS USED IN MANUAL METHOD OF EXCAVATION

The manual method of excavation involves the use of the following tools
 pick-axes used to dig up the soil
 shovels to remove the dug up soil
 spades to level the bottom of the excavation and to load into the wheelbarrow.
 Wheelbarrows to convey the excavated soil away from the excavation area.
 CHAPTER THREE

4.0 WORKDONE

 Casting of covert and median

 Casting of line drain wall

 Laying of stone base

 Bliding and casting of base

 Scarification of road

 Supervision of scarification of surface

 Casting of stair case

Figure 2

 Excavation treches
3.1 CHALLENGE OF SIWES

Challenge of SIWES I had most of problem searching for a place of attachment for my

Industrial Training because most companies rejected my request giving one reason or the

other that they don’t want IT student.

 Overworking: some workers taking advantage of their SIWES students. This could

either be to your advantage or disadvantage. It will enable you to learn more. But it can

also lead to fatigue, stress, and even depression. When faced with this, try to complain to

your superior. And if it doesn’t work, reach out to the owner, even your supervisor.

Unless your superior decides to pay you for the extra time and work. If not, try to do

something about it.

 Lack of Supervision and Care Some schools find it very difficult to go or send

representatives to the various workplaces of their internship students – to monitor,

supervise, grade and advise them on the right things to do.

Because of this, some students don’t even go for training at all.

 Department’s emphasis on Report/Defense: Unfortunately, a lot of emphasis is placed

on how well you write your report and present your defence than the quality of your work

experience during SIWES. But it shouldn’t stop you from doing well in filling your

logbook and getting the required work knowledge and experience. Remember, Defense

and report will end in school. But your experience will help you thrive in the career

world.
  Lack of Support Majority of internship students aren’t being paid. Some firms, despite

being financially stable, find it very difficult to pay their interns. Some even go as far as

charging the internship students’ certain fees. Certain internship students usually spend

more than #1,000 daily on transport and at the end of the week, month or training are not

even given a token by their firms to support. This is one of the common challenges new

interns face in Nigeria.

3.8 SOLUTIONS TO SIWES CHALLENGES IN NIGERIA

 Seriousness and Dedication of Students

Internship students should also ensure to:

 Pay, collect, fill and submit their receipts, letters, forms, and logbooks when necessary.

 Be attentive, hardworking, respectful to their lecturers, supervisors, employers, co-workers.

 Handle the equipment’s, instruments, apparatus, documents and properties of the firm with

absolute care and concern.

 Provision of I.T Spaces

The SIWES bodies in the country should try to make adequate provisions and placements for

internship students, making the programme educative, efficient, effective and worthwhile.

This is also one of the important steps to be taken to face the challenges during an internship in

Nigeria.

 Adequate Supervision and Care

The schools and departments should ensure to always try to make out time to visit their

internship students in their various workplaces to monitor, grade and advise them on the right

things to do. They should also ensure that the students actually benefited from the programme

instead of only being interested in signing logbooks and marking report.

 CHAPTER FOUR

4.0 CONCLUSION

In conclusion practical training in industry is an essential part of the course structure this

enlighten student of Civil Engineering department to the work and to various experience.

During the period of the training the entire staffs of my employer were co-operating in every

aspect and I personally made relationship deeper before I left the organization. The training

expose me to various basic practical techniques involve in my course.

How to manage properties method of developing and all attitude pertaining to practical.

All factor about shows that practical training structure have open job opportunities than

university graduate. For the experience derived at this field of training exhausted us to learn.

4.1 RECOMMENDATION

It is therefore recommended that:

 Host companies, either public or private should endeavour to accommodate student for

industrial training with the mind of giving them the best training to increase their

knowledge.

 The Federal Government should provide industries and organizations with incentives to

encourage and solicit for their cooperation and contribution to the programme

 The Industrial Training Fund should provide a network in which Establishments and

Students could communicate better so promotes easier means of finding placements

 I like to use this medium to explore the federal Government at all stage to take this

SIWES program more seriously seen by the students of applied science as a virtual

improvement in future of technology in our nature.

 The federal Government should make adequate provision in the annual budget

for proper funding of SIWES in view of the potential of the scheme to contribute the

economy. to enhancing the quality of the pool to technical skill available to

 A comprehensive and detail directory of employer who accept students for SIWES is

urgently required to facilitate placement of student in industry.

 In order to guarantee quality assurance of institution and the ITF. The ITF should ensure

that the backlog in payment of students allowance is cleared urgently to remove the

negative image being created for SIWES