1.

0 INTRODUCTION

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skills training programme
designed to expose and prepare students of universities and other tertiary institutions for the
Industrial Work situation they are likely to meet after graduation. It is also a planned and
structured programme based on stated and specific career objectives which are geared towards
developing the occupational competencies of participants (Mafe, 2009). Consequently, the
SIWES programme is a compulsory graduation requirement for all Nigerian university students
offering certain courses.

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), is the accepted training programme,
which is part of the approved Minimum Academic Standard in the various degree programmes
for all Nigerian Universities. The scheme is aimed at bridging the existing gap between theory
and practice of Sciences, Agriculture, Medical Sciences (including Nursing), Engineering and
Technology, Management, and Information and Communication Technology and other
professional educational programmes in the Nigerian tertiary institutions. It is aimed at exposing
students to machines and equipment, professional work areas and workers in industries, offices,
laboratories, hospitals and other organizations.

Prior to establishing the Scheme industrialists and other employers of labour felt concerned that
graduates of Nigeria Universities were deficient in practical background studies preparatory for
employment in industries and other organizations. The employers thus concluded that the higher
institutions was not responsive to the needs of the employers of labour. Consequently, the
rationale for initiating and designing the scheme by the Industrial Training Funds ITF, in 1973.

The scheme is a tripartite programme involving the students, the universities and the employers
of labour. It is funded by the Federal Government and jointly coordinated by the Industrial
Training Funds (ITF) and the National Universities Commission (NUC).

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;

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 4. To allow the transition phase from school to the world of working environment easier and
facilitate students’ contact for the gap between theory and practice.

1.2 ORGANISATIONS INVOLVED IN THE MANAGEMENT OF SIWES

PROGRAMME AND THEIR ROLES

The Federal Government, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Supervising Agency, National
Universities Commission (NUC), Employers of labour and Institutions have specific roles to
play in the management of SIWES. The roles are:

The Federal Government

i. To provide adequate funds to the ITF through the Federal Ministry of Industry for the
scheme;
ii. To make it mandatory for all ministries, companies and parastatals to offer places to
students in accordance with the provisions of Decree No. 47 of 1971 as amended in 1990;
iii. Formulate policies to guide the running of the scheme nationally.

The Industrial Training Fund (ITF)

i. Formulate policies and guidelines on SIWES for distribution to all the SIWES
participating bodies;
ii. Provide logistic material needed to administer the scheme;
iii. Organize orientation programmes for students prior to attachment;
iv. Provide information on companies for attachment and assist in industrial placement of
student;
v. Supervise students on Industrial attachment;
vi. Accept and process Master and Placement lists from institutions and supervising
agencies;
vii. Vet and process students’ log books and ITF Form 8.

The Supervising Agencies (NUC, NABTEB, etc.)

The Nigerian Universities Commission is saddle with the responsibilities to:

i. To ensure the establishment and accreditation of SIWES unit/Directorate in institutions

under their jurisdiction;

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 ii. To vet and approve Master and Placement lists of students from participating institution
and forward same to ITF;
iii. To direct for the appointment of full-time SIWES Coordinator/Director;
iv. Review programmes qualified from SIWES regularly;
v. Participate in the Biennial SIWES conferences and seminars in conjunction with ITF.

The Institution

i. Appoint SIWES Coordinator in Schools;

ii. Prepare and submit Master and Placement lists to the respective coordinating agency and
ITF
iii. Place students on attachment with employers;
iv. Organise orientation programmes for students to prepare them for industrial training;
v. Supervise students on attachment and their logbooks. A minimum of three visits should
be made to the students by the institution’s supervisors during the period of attachment;
vi. Work out industrial tailor-made programme with the employers-based supervisor on the
National Training Guidelines for each course;
vii. Submit completed ITF Form 8 to the ITF;
viii. Submit comprehensive reports on the scheme to the ITF after the programme.

The Employers/Industry

i. Accept students and assign them to relevant on-the-job training;

ii. Provide tailor made training programmes for the students;
iii. Attach experienced staff to students for effective training and supervision on a ratio of
1:10 (staff : students);
iv. Control and discipline students like permanent staff;
v. Provide medical care for students within he limit of employers conditions of service;
vi. Permit representatives of ITF and institutions’ based supervisors to visit the students on
attachment and;
vii. Grade students in the assessment Form and the ITF Form.

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The Students

i. To attend institution’s SIWES orientation programme before going on industrial

attachment;
ii. Comply with the employers rules and regulations;
iii. Keep proper records of training activities and other assignments in the logbook;
iv. Arrange their own accommodation during the period of attachment;
v. Submit Log Books, Reports and other documents related to SIWES as required by heir
institution at the end of the training period;
vi. Submit to ITF through their institution, Evaluation Form (ITF Form 8) completed by the
students the employer and the institution;
vii. Avoid changing of place of attachment except in special circumstances and with and with
the permission of your Centre Director and SIWES Directorate.

1.3 DURATION OF ATTACHMENT FOR SIWES

The minimum duration for SIWES should normally be 24 weeks (6months) at a stretch. The
period is longer for engineering and technology programmes. The ITF will not pay any
attachment period that is less than 24 weeks. In most institutions, SIWES is done at the end of
the 2nd semester examination of either 300, 400, or 500 level. The time and duration will have to
be worked out jointly by each school and the directorate and the ITF.

1.4 BENEFITS OF SIWES TO STUDENTS

The scheme has recorded tremendous achievement since its creation among which are:

 It has helped student by exposing them to practical knowledge of things they were taught
in the class.
 It has been able to restore student, making them assumed of their competence.
 It has also help student get acquitted to the method of their various career.

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2.0 ABOUT KADIRI ASSOCIATES LIMITED

Kadiri Associate Limited is one of the prominent consulting firms in the built environment. It is
founded by PDG.TPL. Waheed A. Kadiri. ppnitp, fnitp, mnim, mcilt. The firm has its
headquarter situated at Oscar House, 11, Ewupe Road, Ota, Ogun State. And other branches at
Abeokuta and Abuja, which planning jobs had been executed over the years.

Kadiri Associates started as a Planning Study/Action Group in 1987 and metamorphosed into a
planning practice, which became formally registered in 1992 as Kadiri Associates. 18 years after
in 2010 Kadiri Associates became Kadiri Associates Ltd., following expansion of its business
and reorganization with more partners and associates. The experiences of the Principal Partner
and Associates are wide and multidimensional as indicated in the curriculum vitae of key staff.

Their diverse educational background and specialization are strong assets to the team. At present,
there are seven professionals and technical staff with four consultants while the firm is still in the
process of expansion. Kadiri Associates is wholly indigenous and utilizes modern technology in
its day-to-day operations.

The firm has undertaken many Urban Planning Projects in many parts of Nigeria. In addition the
firm is registered with both Town Planning Registration Council (TOPREC) and Association of
Town Planning Consultants of Nigeria (ATOPCON). All the hey staff are members of the
Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP) while the principal partner and other key staff are
registered members of the Royal Town Planning Institute in Britain.

Although the firm is about fifteen years old, it draws on over thirty years’ experience of its
principal partner, Waheed A. Kadiri. The principal partner and his Associates have been
involved in major Urban Planning and Transportation projects.

Mission Statement

Our goal is to be the reference point for what Consultancy in urban, regional and transportation
planning should be. Consulting should be an avenue for the elevation of the profession both in
practice and training. We are aware that this may not be easy but the challenge is what we set for
ourselves.

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2.2 Our services

Urban and Regional Planning: This involves physical development planning and urban design
for towns and cities, regions and local areas, preparation of Master Plan for universities,
polytechnics and others, detailed layout for Residential, Commercial, Industrial and Institutional
areas. Others include New Town Development, Recreational and Landscape Planning, Coastal
Zone development as well as Erosion Control and Reforestation.

Transportation Planning and Management: This encompasses all aspects of management,

planning and administration, finance, sales, marketing, personnel, training, legal, industrial
relations and information management for all modes of transport.

Plate 2.0: Transportation Planning

Planning Advocacy: This involves making representation on behalf of our clients in the
settlement of disputes at law courts, tribunals and arbitration panels on urban and regional
planning related issues.

Environmental Impact Assessment: This is a feasibility test that must be passed before project
execution and is required by law for any developer (Private or government) seeking permission

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for any major development such as commercial, industrial, recreational and even residential land
in excess of 2 hectares.

Plate 2.1: Environmental Impact Assessment

Site Analysis: This involves identification, classification, analysis and selection of different sites
at different locations for different/specific urban development projects to ensure that sites are
best developed for the most suitable project.

Property Developments and Management: Management, administration, finance and

development of real estates are the focus of our service in this area.

Project Management: The multidisciplinary nature of urban, regional and transportation

planning projects requires that a good project management system be put in place for their
successful implementation. Project Management involves a constant and consistent coordination
of projects in an effective and efficient way such that the goals and objectives of such projects
are achieved. The focus of a good project manager in the implementation of any project involves
budgeting, costs control, schedules, resource allocation, technical quality and client – customer
or public relation and evaluation and selection of other consultants/contractors for a project.

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Other areas of the practice include: Regional/District Planning and Socio-Economic Studies,
Institutional Planning, Landscape Assessment and Planning

2.3 ORGANOGRAM OF KADIRI ASSOCIATES LIMITED

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3.0 KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERIENCE ACQUIRED

My experience were knowledge driven and in practical with the organization within period of
placement. The areas of knowledge acquisition of the organization were as follows:

 Administrative work

At the initial stage of my attachment program, I was introduced to Staffs of the organization,
sections and the facilities of the organization. Equipment were printers A3, A1 & A4,
photocopiers, scanners, etc. Files and folders were shown by the Administrative officers. My
supervisor also taught me how to bind using the binding machine, and how to perforate inventory
letters. I was instructed to sort some files in the office cabinet which were expenditure file,
incoming mails file, outgoing mails file. While on a monthly basis I assisted in accounting and
balancing of financial records.

During the course, I worked on maps both offline and online to obtain geographical features
about site in order to have a prior knowledge before visitation. Typical examples were Iju-
Agbado Railway Station and Stabling Yard project and Al-Moruff Bounded Terminal;
geographical coordinates and locations.

I was instructed to sort out names of individual whose property were revoke along the railway
line project from a document, which were 157 in total. I discovered that respective section of the
project was allotted to profession related to the subject matter such as Estate Surveyors and
Engineers.

 Master Plans and Other Reports

I understudy the Master Plans done by the organization in so far. Such as Christian Pentecostal
Mission International, Development Guide Plan of Mowe, Ogun State, Federal Medical Centre,
Idi-Abba Ogun State, Ijegun-Egba Action Area Plan etc. In which, I learnt how to write
commentary on report such as Development Guide Plan of Mowe, Ogun State.

 Field work (Iju-Agbado Railway, Al-Moruff Jetty Bounded Terminal)

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The field work or site visitation was a fully practical and interesting session to see beyond the
wall of classroom and office while on attachment. I acquired knowledge through the
reconnaissance survey at various site. The site visited were Iju- Agbado Railway Station and Al-
Moruff Bounded Jetty and Terminal. At Iju-Agbado Railway Station, I learnt how to take
inventory of building height, condition and uses. And examine the existing railway station at
Agbado (Ogun State) and Iju (Lagos State).

Subsequent visitations to Iju-Agbado Railway Station, I learnt how to work with a team in
identifying existing land uses in the site, which were Residential, Commercial, Public, and Open
spaces. Also, we identified demolished buildings abutting the rail lines; ongoing construction of
overhead pedestrian and vehicular bridges across the rail lines.

Another site visit was at Al-Moruff Bounded terminal/Jetty Custom Point, Otto Awori, Ojo
Local Government, to identify existing infrastructure on the site. It was a great experience to see
berthing of Ship, stacking of container, and the undergoing construction of stacking yard and
other ancillary buildings such as Administrative buildings, Security house, Fuel pump etc.

 Computer Applications Expertise

MS word, MS excel, AutoCAD, Geographic Information System, and SPSS were the application
software used in the firm. I did series of typing using Ms-word software such as report,
presentation papers, manuscript etc. Also used Ms-PowerPoint for presentations slides of
respective reports and papers as required. In order to aid efficiency and time delivery of project, I
worked with a team in the installation of new version of Auto CAD and GIS software on the
available computers in the organization.

To enhance my soft skill, I worked with Geo spatial analyst to update the information generated
from the field survey of Iju – Agbado Railway project. On Iju-Agbado Railway Station and
Stabling Yard, I did georeferencing, statistical analysis of building use and height, proposal
designs etc. I did digitalizing of Al-Moruff Bounded terminal/Jetty design (at Custom Point, Otto
Awori, Ojo Local Government) with AutoCAD software siting different facilities at their best
use. Accessibility and avoidance of overcrowding was also a criterion while designing, also the
site visit gave a clue of constraint on the site, which was the powerline hence, dielectric net was
proposed in the design.

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Also designed a Residential Layout of 4.443 hectares of land with AutoCAD, and a Flow Plan
design of a Jetty terminal with Ms-Word.

 Workshops, Presentation and Professional meeting

I attended the monthly Nigerian Institute of Town Planners (NITP), Ogun State Chapter meeting
at Abeokuta. Here I got to known level of membership in the institute; students, young planners
member, and fellow. Also I learnt that respective chapter has their bye-laws across States in the
Federation.
Also on 22/02/2023, I attended the 9th Waheed Kadiri Lecture Series titled “The Nexus between
Physical Plan and National Plan” at NITP building, Oke- Mosan, Abeokuta. This was organized
by Nigerian Institute of Town Planners, Ogun State Chapter.

On submission of the Agbado Railway Station and Stabling Yard Project, the organization was
engaged with the Ministry of Urban and Physical Planning (Ogun State), LAMATA, Bureau of
Lands, and PLANET project in presentation on “Land Use and Associated Details of Agbado
Railway Station and Stabling Yard”. This presentation took place at the Conference of MUPP,
Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta. The presentation was an eye-opener to the audience on what land
development relationship coexists between Ogun and Lagos State and how it would affect the
Railway Station and Stabling Yard built at Ogun State. Amongst the significance were access to
wider Metropolitan Area, opportunity for regeneration of a good proportion of housing unit,
improve land value, possibility of densification-vertical development, availability of rail
transport, invasion of higher yield uses from Lagos State end etc. Hence, made me to the
necessity of presentation skill in the profession.

On 26-27/04/2023, I attended ATOPCON 2023 Professional Development Workshop titled

“Encouraging Global Best Practices in Town Planning Consultancy Service Delivery” at
Academy Inn, House Royal Comfort, Plot, Lateef Jakande Road, Agidibi, Ikeja, Lagos State.
Hence the workshop opened my scope on the profession. I understood what consultancy is and
how can consultancy service can be deliver timely and effectively. Kadiri (2023) gives the
difference between Town Planning consultancy and Student Project Defense is such that “Town
planning Consulting is that you present to those who has agreed that you know more than they
having taken higher responsibilities while, Student Project Defense is presenting to those who

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know more than you.” The definition of town planning consulting is embedded in its need which
cannot overemphasized

Also, Adeniji (1985) recognised five reasons why “public agencies require the services of
planning consultants”. These are when

i. Expertise in a specialised technique is needed, and such is absent in the establishment

concerned;

ii. An outside, independent view or a special type of experience is required;

iii. The resources of the agency concerned, are too committed to other works to undertake a
particular task;

iv. The agency concerned wishes to make use of up to date and cost effective methods and
techniques not otherwise available; and

v. The agency has no town planning personnel in its employment at all.

However, the workshop made to understand what would be my take after school in the
profession. It differentiate what is practicing firm and consulting firm, the clarification was on
years of practice such that at least 3 years of experience before you can be practicing firm and 10
years before you can be consulting firm. Also the future town planning consulting will require
creativity, internet of things and integrity.

 Research and Other Tasks

I made research on investment in Public Health, and Education sector in Lagos State as far back
as 2000 till date. Also researched on Planning Permit for layout plan in Lagos State which I
discovered that an expanse of land with 10, 000 sqm area, is required for a layout plan.

Also, assigned to me were printing of maps for respective field surveys and submission, at Bells
University, Ota. The base map were usually printed in A1 size, and sub – sections in A2 sizes.
Maps include of Ijegun – Egba Action Plan. Development Guide Plan of Mowe, Ogun State etc.

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4.0 CONSTRAINTS DURING SCHEME EXPERIENCE

During my training, a few challenges I faced are as follows;

The fluctuation cost of transportation on daily basis was a major constrain. I spend averagely a
sum of #3000 weekly on transporting myself to and fro to work every week. This wouldn’t have
been a problem if at least my allowance at every end of the month is buoyant.

I was unable to acquired my personal computing gadget, this actually limit the level of
assignment given to me indirectly reduces my exposure.

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5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 CONCLUSION

SIWES had immensely contributed to my knowledge in Urban and Regional Planning, it indeed
has increase my degree of exposure to various area of Town Planning, most especially
“consulting”. Planning by its nature is restrictive, indicative and regulatory. It is a creative and
permissive tool to achieve a planned development proposed for the community laid out in the
development plan and simply because of its role in space and development management should
be the concern of all alike.

Five months industrial training at the Kadiri Associates Limited, Ota, Ogun State has been one of
the interesting, productive, instructive and educative experience in my life. Through the training
I gained insight and more comprehensive understanding about the real industrial working
condition and has greatly improved both professional and interpersonal skill. As a result of the
programme, I am now confident to build my future career which I have already started at the
Associates.

5.2 RECOMMENDATIONS

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My recommendation is that the organization should be adequately equipped with more
technological facilities such as computers, electronic notepads, cameras, and internet facilities to
enhance real time spatial information within the firm.

The Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Olabisi Onabanjo University should make sure
the students find appropriate places with the recent trend in the built industry for their Industrial
Training.

Finally, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in collaboration with the Federal Government should
increase the allowance paid to IT students, and remunerate them on time, to encourage and bring
out the zeal in these students and possibly make the student carry out their IT in establishments
related to their discipline rather than go in pursuance of money instead of experience and
exposure.

REFERENCES

Mafe, (2009)

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