SIWES is an acronym for Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme. SIWES is a tripartite programme, involving the students, the Universities and the industries (employers of labour). It is aimed at complementing classroom teaching in some  courses and acquainting students with the skills needed in the industries after graduation. The scheme is funded by the Federal Government of Nigeria and jointly coordinated by the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Industrial Training Fund (ITF). The Directorate is the primary stakeholder that students relate with in order to ensure their successful participation in SIWES.

The scheme is a skill training programme designed to prepare and expose students of the University to the industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.This is in response to the growing concerns among industrialists that graduates of institutions of higher learning lacked adequate practical background required for employment in industries which needed to be addressed.

The Directorate will coordinate the participation of students in the mandatory industrial attachment and language immersion programmes for disciplines that require such. The organization of SIWES shall be the responsibility of this Directorate to ensure that all students in skill and practical oriented courses participate in the SIWES. The responsibilities of the Directorate will include to coordinate and administer all industrial training programmes in the University including liaising with NUC, ITF, TETFUND and similar agencies in all matters relating to SIWES and other industrial training programmes.

The unit will be headed by a Director appointed by the Vice-chancellor who shall be from one of the departments taking part in SIWES.

It is a skills training programme designed to expose and prepare students of Universities, Polytechnics/Colleges of Technology/Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of Education for the industrial work situation they are 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 institutions.

Specifically, the SIWES Directorate will:

1. Provide avenues for students to acquire industrial skills and experience during their course of study.
2. Prepare students for industrial work situation they are likely to meet after graduation.
3. Expose students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machineries that may not be available in the university;
4. Provides students with the opportunities to apply their educational knowledge in real work situations, thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.
5.  Make the transition from the schooling to world of work easier through enhancing students’ contact for later job placement.
6.  Enlist and strengthen employers’ involvement in the entire educational process and prepares students for employment after graduation

By the directive of National Universities Commission (NUC) and Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the Centre is charged with the following responsibilities:

1. Soliciting for Industrial Training jobs in business, industry, government and service agencies depending upon the needs and qualifications of the students.
2. Placement of students in industries etc. after analyzing the technical contents of jobs provided.
3. Supervision of students while on Industrial Training.
4. Conducting follow-up activities regarding all students’ placements by checking regularly each student’s job performance through company visits and individual student interviews.
5. Organization of seminars for students pre and post Industrial Training programme.
6. Evaluating feedback from the industry regarding the students’ Industrial training with continuous assessment of the programme in order to monitor and improve its quality.
7. Fostering of close links between the university and industries participating in SIWES programme.
8. Provision of advisory guidance to participating students on career employment opportunities
9. Liaison among the University, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the National Universities Commission (NUC) and other relevant Government Agencies in the operation of SIWES.
10. Establishing and fostering contacts between the University, Educational Institutions, Government Departments and Industries at necessary levels of cooperation.
11.  Monitoring of compliance with the requirements of SIWES on the part of students in eligible disciplines as a condition for graduation.
12. Facilitation of the disbursement of the students’ allowance to deserving students through e-payment.
13.  Apply job-specifications as prepared for all the accredited courses and award appropriate credit units in accordance with Federal Government minimum academic standard guidelines.
14. General management, administration and control of Industrial Training activities of students of all Faculties involved in industrial training at the University.