L-R, The Acting Librarian, Dr. (Mrs) Mulikat Salam, DVC (Academic), Prof. Chryss Onwuka, DVC (Development), Prof. Segun Lagoke, Zonal Area Manager (ITF), Mr. Abayo Osasona and Director (SIWES), Prof. Michael Ajala at the Meeting.
The Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES), has been described as an essential tool for exposing students to work methods and techniques in handling equipment and machinery which may not be available in their various institutions.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, said this at the 2011 2nd Quarter, SIWES Zonal Coordinators’ Meeting, held in the Senate Chamber of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor who was represented at the occasion by his Deputy in charge of Development, Prof. Segun Lagoke, said the Scheme also offers students windows of opportunities to apply their knowledge in real work situations, thereby bridging the gap between theory and practice.
Emphasizing the demonstrated University’s interest in the scheme, not only in the establishment of the Directorate of SIWES, but also in meeting all the needed and recommended facilities, including having a separate bank account and a functional vehicle for the Scheme.
The Vice-Chancellor, while appreciating the efforts of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in paying Staff supervisory allowances, appealed to it, to expedite action on the payment of the outstanding student allowances for the 2007/2008 and 2008/2009 academic sessions.
Also speaking at the Meeting, the Zonal Area Manager, ITF, Mr. Abayo Osasona, reminisced on the antecedents of UNAAB SIWES Directors from Prof. Kehinde Okeleye through Prof. Chryss Onwuka to Prof. Michael Ajala, commending their individual contributions.
Mr. Osasona implored the University Management to accommodate students from other tertiary institutions within the State for Industrial Training while giving kudos to the Management for the massive physical transformation of its campus.
In his Welcome Address, the Director, UNAAB SIWES, Professor Michael Ajala, reiterated the dwindling financial support of the Federal Government to ITF, with a pat on the back for the determination of the Zonal Managers in sustaining SIWES.
Professor Ajala commended the Chief Executive of the University, Prof. Oluwafemi Olaiya Balogun, whose administrative style, he noted, “leaves nothing to be desired for his paternal encouragement and his prudent management of resources, coupled with his open-door policy of administration which in turn, is a testimony to the quality of his leadership”, he said.