A REPORT ON STUDENTS’ INDUSTRIAL

WORK EXPERIENCE SCHEME (SIWES)

BY

OJO TRIUMPH IYANUOLUWA

18/52HL098

FROM NOVEMBER 2021 TO APRIL 2022

OBSERVED AT:

SOFTRAYS

Bubu street, behind Sanrab filling station, Tanke, Ilorin

 OVERVIEW

This technical report majorly captures the work done and the experience gathered
during my six-month SIWES placement at Softrays, Tanke Ilorin.
My duty while on this skill training programme cut across different Information
Technology fields including but not limited to:
o Frontend development using tools like, ReactJS, NextJS
o Taught students some frontend basics ranging from Html, Css to Javascript
o Learning some backend languages like NodeJS, ExpressJS and interacting
with MongoDB database

Within this period, I verifiably sharpened my Web App / Website development

skills and learnt a lot on how to market and monetize my skills in the IT world.
This report, therefore, analyses and presents the skills acquired; and further points
out how essential the programme is in preparing students for the world after
school, and equipping them with marketable skills required to sustain out there.
 CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION
The Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill acquisition
programme which has become a compulsory part of academic standards in many
Nigerian Tertiary Institutions’ degree programmes. It was established in 1973 by
Industrial Training Fund (ITF), to expose students to various industrial practical
activities (real life scenarios) such as handling and operating equipment which they
may not have the opportunity to learn during campus activities only.

1.1 Background
It has become a necessity and government’s education policy in most higher
institutions in Nigeria that every student should go through this industrial training
before they can be awarded either a Diploma or a bachelor’s degree specifically in
technical, engineering, applied science, and educational disciplines.
Over the years, this programme has evidently been the solution to the common
problem students have after graduation – lack of practical exposure and relevant
skills in their various fields. SIWES has made various students realize how
relevant their course of study is, in the current labor market. This is indeed a
privilege for students as they get to have a glimpse of what they will be dealing
with after graduation.
The ITF and their coordinating agencies such as NUC, NCCE, and NBTE, in
agreement with some industries and other employers of labor, are the core
operators of this scheme, while the Federal Government of Nigeria continues to
fully fund it. The undergraduates of Medical Science, Education, Other Sciences,
Technology, Agriculture, and Environmental fields are the major beneficiaries of
the programme, and the duration varies between three months to six months.
1.2 Objectives of the Scheme
 To expose students to real world scenarios, real world problems they most
likely would encounter in their workplace and how to handle such
situations
 It makes the process of transition from school to the world of work easier
and enhances student’s contact for later job placement.
 To ensure no student of higher institutions lacks industrial skills and the
necessary experience during their course of study.
 To provide students with an avenue to handle and operate equipment and
machinery relevant to their course of study which their institutions may not
have.

 To carry industries and other employers of labor along in students’

educational process.
 To ensure students are familiar with the technological innovations in their
different fields and professions.
 To ensure that the skills acquired by students are relevant to their careers.
 CHAPTER TWO
DESCRIPTION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF ATTACHMENT

2.1 Location and Brief History of the Establishment

Softrays is an information and communication technology company that provides
one of the tech world’s most comprehensive portfolios of IT training with broad
expertise in ICT consultancy. Softrays is a Nigerian based telecommunication and
technology conglomerate founded by Engr. Ademola Olatunde and Engr. Ademola
John. Softrays offers a wide range of automated and integrated solutions in a broad
spectrum of computers and telecommunication technology. This technology-
oriented corporation is on record to be the cheapest source for high-quality goods
and services and has a high reputation for performance in customization,
distribution and after-sales services of a laptop, desktops, printers, software and all
kinds of system accessories, security gadgets and communication equipment’s
supplies, maintenance, training and graphical customization.

2.2 OBJECTIVES AND VISION OF ESTABLISHMENT

 To produce professionals in this era of global technologies
 To build bridges between need and the solution
 To serve as a catalyst for both individual and collective development
through the provision of cutting-edge technological server's solution,
resources and guidance.
 To offer a wide range of automated and integrated solution in broad
spectrum of computer and telecommunication
 Our vision is to become the leading full-service information and
communication technology.

2.3 Organizational Structure (Organogram)

 CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER (CEO)

BRANCH MANAGER

NETWORK ENGINEER PROJECT ENGINEER SYSTEM ENGINEER ACCOUNTANT

NETWORK CONSULTANT PROGRAMMING UNIT

Fig 1: The company’s organogram

2.4 Various Department/Units and Their Functions

There are five units in CSIS and their functions are

Network Consultant
The Network Consultant is an experienced and educated professional who certifies
network functionality and performance. They are responsible for designing, setting
up and maintaining computer networks at either an organization or client location.

o Establishing, defining, documenting network environment and

systems including a LAN, VLAN (A virtual LAN is any broadcast domain
that has broken down into more logical networks and isolated in a computer
network at the data link layer (OSI layer 2)), as well as local intranet or
extranet servers and resources. Installation and configuration of network
equipment.
o Maximizing network performance such as network traffic, security, and
capacity. Troubleshooting network problems and outages, overseeing,
monitoring and upgrading network infrastructure and user access to the
network.
 o Remote troubleshooting and fault finding if issues occur upon initial
installation.

Hardware and System Services (System Engineer)

o Installing, maintaining and repairing computer peripheral or hardware
components, full hardware diagnostics, parts ordering and installation,
memory and hard drive upgrades, troubleshooting different computer issues.
o Software repair services such as maintaining system configuration and
operating system operating system and software installation (based on the
terms of MIT's license agreements with software vendors), data recovery
and disaster assessment, virus, spyware, and adware removal, installs system
software by loading software into computer.

Programming Unit
o Building and designing interface of websites. Designing and implementing
security measures against cyber-attack and virus. Write software packages to
handle specific tasks, such as controlling equipment or storing and retrieving
data. Also model, design, create and maintain the computer databases and
tables used by a software solution.
o Respond Provides electronic e-Payment for financial operations, provides e-
Learning, e-Health, e-Examination e-Administration for the internal and
external university communities, enrolment, course registration. Manage
user access to systems and equipment through account management and
password administration.
 CHAPTER THREE
TASKS CARRIED OUT AND EXPERIENCE GAINED
3.1 Taught Frontend classes
After my presentation of the weather app, I was assigned some classes to take
Frontend tools like HTML, CSS and JAVASCRIPT. I worked hand in hand with
several of my students to better their knowledge on these frontend tools; One of the
steps was to give them projects to check their progress. My communication skills
has been developed as well while trying to teach and the students learnt at a rapid
rate. One of my students built a web calculator using Html and Css.
3.2 Collaboration on Git/GitHub
At a point, especially during the lockdown, we had to work from home for a long
time. We were made to learn Git and GitHub so we could efficiently work
remotely. Git is a free distributed version control system. It is used to keep
detailed tracks of codes and enables all authenticated developers to make
traceable changes. It is meant for remote collaborative work among developers.
While GitHub is a code-hosting platform primarily used to manage Git
repositories.
Using a video tutorial (Git Tutorial for Beginners) by a YouTube tutor popularly
known as Mosh, I added Git and GitHub to my bag of skills which I used to
participate in many projects.
 CHAPTER FOUR
PROJECTS BUILT, TOOLS USED, AND EXPERIENCE GAINED

4.1 Chat App using React JS, Firebase

After teaching some classes, I was challenged to build a chat App using Firebase as
the backend and FireStore as the Database. This project exposed me to the world of
google and how to search for solutions to challenges one might encounter by using
clear and concise words to describe your bugs and it also exposed me to interacting
with the database to be to perform certain functions and to keep the user data as
secure as possible. I also learnt how to handle authenticated users properly

Fig 4.1 Chat App Codebase

 Fig 3.3 Chat App web look

4.2 Weather App on Frontend using ReactJS

To test my knowledge and my proficiency in frontend, I was given a weather app
to build to test my knowledge in Git, Github, React JS and how good I was at
using REST APIs. I did a lot of research to get an API that gets weather details
and was able to complete the project within a week. I started to get more
confident in my abilities after I presented and was told get some of my mates up
to speed.
 Figure 4.2 Snapshot of Weather app project

4.3 A Professional Portfolio Using ReactJS

I was informed on the benefit of having a professional portfolio to show yourself
to the world and show your capabilities. A professional portfolio is meant to put
people out there, it is like an online CV that showcases your skills, experiences,
projects and other important information about the owner. I was able to build a
professional portfolio using react and deploying it with digital ocean. Here is the
link to the deployed site (https://codeart4.com).
Figure 4.3 Snapshots from the portfolio
 CHAPTER FIVE
SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS
5.1 Summary
The six months used in Softrays as a SIWES student was a journey that began
slowly and transited into something unforgettable. I was a useful tool in almost
all the departments ranging from teaching to programming.
I worked on several projects both singlehandedly and in collaboration with
others. I also had personal projects which I used to polish my skills to maintain
growth.
My service at Softrays seldomly attracted a pay but I was able to improve
professionally including understanding how to handle people

5.2 Problem Encountered

 Not understanding when to slow down, I had a difficult time knowing
when to rest which eventually affected my health severally.
 The major problem I had was with the amount of learning I had to do on
my own which opened me to a new world but I encountered bugs and
found it a little difficult to debug a thing I’m just learning

5.3 Suggestion for Improvement of SIWES

Having gone through and understood what SIWES is and the benefits of the
scheme, I hereby suggest bellow:
o The time students use on the programme should be increased to maybe
nine months or a year to allow them to gain more experience before
abruptly returning to school.
o Extra reward such as marks should be awarded to students than earn from
their SIWES placements. This will encourage students to equip themselves
with one or two skills they can market during SIWES instead of blankly
going to serve irrelevant purposes/errands while on SIWES.