5 - ITF Nigeria

PREFACE
The level of Industrial Development in any society is directly linked to
the quality of skilled manpower available to drive the production and
service delivery processes. It was in realization of the close
relationship between Human Resources and Economic
Development that the Industrial Training Fund introduced the
Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) in 1973,
barely three years after it was established as a Human Resource
Development Agency. The Scheme was specifically designed to
provide Students of Tertiary Institutions, in specific courses, with the
opportunity of acquiring practical skills and experiences on-the-job
before graduation.
After three decades of coordinating the administration and operation
of the Scheme, it is necessary to evaluate its impact on skills
development in Nigeria. The study, An Evaluation of the Impact of
SIWES on Technical Skills Development in Nigeria, was designed to
examine the effectiveness of instruments, structures and processes
that were deployed to facilitate the operation of the Scheme. The
study also assessed the perception of various Stakeholders, how
effectively various Stakeholders have discharged their roles and
responsibilities in the operation of the Scheme.
The overall objective of the study, which was carried out by the
Industrial Training Fund in collaboration with a Research Team from
the University of Jos, was to identify factors that affect the smooth
operation of SIWES in order to enhance the skill-base of the nation's
Human Resources. It is expected that the outcome of the study will
assist various Stakeholders to fashion out and apply appropriate
measures to improve the operation of the Scheme and invariably,
produce high quality graduates.
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