CHAPTER ONE

1.0 Introduction

1.1 Brief history of SIWES

On 8th October, 1971, government highlighted the capacity building of human resources in industry, commerce and government through training and retraining of workers in order to effectively provide the much needed high quality goods and services in a dynamic economy as ours (Jemerico, 2003). This led to the establishment of industrial training funds ITF in 1973/1974.

The growing concern about our industrialists that graduates of our higher institution lack adequate practical background studies preparatory for employment in industries led to the formation of student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) by ITF in 1993/1994 (information and guidelines for SIWES, 2012).

The student industrial work experience scheme (SIWES) is a skill trainingprogramme to expose students of different fields such as technology, environmental, sciences, agriculture etc. for a period of four or six months depending on the discipline to industrial work situation and enable them develop occupational competencies so that they can readily contribute their quota to the National, Economical and Technological development after graduation.

1.1.1          Growth of the scheme

Since the culmination of the scheme, the number of anticipating institution has increased from eleven (11) in 1975 to thirty (30) in 1978 and corresponding increase in the numbers of students anticipating in the programme from 784 in 1975 to 4,173 in 1978. Viable figures could not be collected due to operation difficulties. The number of participating increased from 68 in 1985 with student’s population of 16,912 to 101 institutions in 1990 with students ‘population of 32,526. Since the inception of the management of the scheme, about 136,927 students benefited from the programme (between1985-1995) and till date millions of students across Nigeria has equally benefited from the programme.

1.1.2          Management and funding of the scheme

The programme was initially managed and funded by ITF (1973-1978), but due to operational difficulties encountered, the responsibility was handed over to National University Commission and National Board for Technical Education from 1979-1985.The NUC and NBTE was unable to properly manage and provide the necessary fund for the programme to be running effectively, so in 1985, ITF Took over the management and funding from NUC and NCCEITF, in collaboration with NUC, NBTE and NCCE play a coordinating role now. TO manage and provide allowances was N30 per month in 1975 and in 1975 it was increased to N50 per month and in 1976 it was N90 per month, currently students on SIWES are paid N250 per month as supervisor’s allowance and the federal government provided the funding through Industrial Training Fund (ITF).                                                                                                                      

1.1.3          Contribution of the scheme

The scheme makes vital impact on the national economy, technological development and human resources. These contributions include the following:

It improves the quality of skilled manpower in Nigeria and the professional world at large.

The improvement of technical communication for students

Establishment of the various ties for the institutions and industries.

Opportunity of employment for students.

1.1.4          Aim and objectives of SIWES

The main aim of the program is to bridge the gap existing between the theoretical and practical aspects of science, engineering, technology and other programs in the Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Provide avenue for student of higher institution to acquire industrial skills and experience in their course of study.

To expose student to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery not available in their institutions.

Prepares students for technical works situation which they are likely to meet after school.

Enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process of preparing graduates for employment in the various industries and organisations around the country.

1.1.5          Benefits of Industrial Training to Students

1. The scheme provides the students the opportunity to apply the theoretical principle taught in school in job situation, this leads to better understanding of the object.

2.The scheme helps students in intellectual skills as they are on their own to take technical decision and often analyse complex problems.

3.It affords them the chance to interact with a larger spectrum of people in industrial setup which is different from campus life; hence this helps personality and maturity level.

4. It enable the students prepare himself or herself for future world or work i.e. an opportunity to peep into the future and determine how much they are ready for it.

1.2             Brief history ofDPR

Petroleum matters were handled by the Hydrocarbon Section of the Ministry of Lagos Affairs, which reported directly to the Governor-General.The Unit kept records on matters relating to exploration, and importation of petroleum products. It also enforced safety and other regulations on matters which were then mostly products importation and distribution. As the activities of the petroleum industry expanded, the Unit was upgraded to a Petroleum Division within the Ministry of Mines and Power.

DPR Headquarters - 7 Kofo AbayomiThe Petroleum Division grew to become the Department of Petroleum Resources in 1970. In 1971, a new body – The Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) was created to handle direct commercial operational activities in the oil industry on behalf of the Federal Government, while the Department of Petroleum Resources in the Federal Ministry of Mines and Power continued to exercise statutory supervision and control of the industry.In 1975, the Department was upgraded to a Ministry and named the Ministry of Petroleum and Energy which was later renamed the Ministry of Petroleum Resources.

Decree 33 of 1977 merged the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Nigerian National Oil Corporation (NNOC) to form the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in order to conserve the then scarce manpower in the oil industry. This decree also created the Petroleum Inspectorate as an integral part of the NNPC, and entrusted it with the regulation of the petroleum industry.

In 1985, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources was re-established, but the Petroleum Inspectorate remained within the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation until March, 1988 when the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation was re-organised. By this re-organisation, the Petroleum Inspectorate was excised from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, and transferred to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources as the Technical arm and renamed the Department of petroleum resources(DPR).

1.2.1Aim and objectivesof DPR

1.     To monitor and regulate the quality of all categories of waste generated from oil and gas industry operations arising from activities during exploration, drilling, refining of crude oil as well as storage and sale of refined products.

2.     To monitor and ensure that petroleum products produced in this      country or imported and distributed for public.

3.     To accredit laboratories of prospective oil services companies or     any laboratories with which the company has memorandum of   understanding (M.O.U), which is a requirement for company          capability to acquire or present            reliable data via

laboratory        investigation.

1.2.2          Quality control laboratory section

This unit ensure that refined petroleum products attain universal standard before they are transported via pipeline, stored or even dispatched. Different tests and analysis are carried out at different work areas using different apparatus on those products in the quality control laboratory, and water laboratory as well.

1.2.3          Health and Safety Environment (HSE) unit

Health and safety environment unit makes sure those workers of oil sector undergo safety induction course in order to know the hazards and dangers associated with the areas which are encountered so that measures can be taken. This unit also ensures that waste from different refining processes is properly checked to ensure safety when discharged to water bodies or other surfaces.

Table 1: Organisational Structure of DPR

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