₦airaland Forum

BRIEF INTRODUCTION: Internship according to Wikipedia consists of an exchange of services for experience between the student and an organization. Simply put Internship is a period of time normally between 6months to 1 year during which a student or graduate acquires practical and work experience in a specified discipline from an organization. In Nigeria it is called “Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme” (SIWES) or popularly known as “Industrial Training” (IT). Students engage in the scheme during their second, third or even fourth year in the university as the case maybe for a maximum of six months while in polytechnics the schemes spans for a period of one year after a student has successfully completed his/her National Diploma Programme. The essence of the scheme is to bridge the gap between the theoretical and practical knowledge of students. There are paid internships for students in Medicine and medically related fields like nursing, medical laboratory science, radiography and pharmacy. These students are called “Interns" during this period and are paid by the Government. Students in other fields like Engineering, Sciences, Management and Business are also part of the internship programme but are not guaranteed payment, although some organizations like multinationals and companies encourage their interns with stipends and some incentives while some are indifferent about it. The Government too also pay meager stipends to students going in for the programme but the payments are quite inconsistent and in most cases students don’t even get to lay their hands on the peanuts. The bottom line here is for the student to glean practical knowledge of his/her field of study and gain some work experience.


BENEFITS TO STUDENTS
Safe for the acquisition of technical knowledge and skills in diverse fields students benefit from the scheme in the following ways:


1. Work Experience: Organizations engage these students in one or two allied activities that enable them to gain work experience which also counts in Job seeking and resume' enriching. The sense of responsibility and commitment during the program will also aid them in future work endeavors, most of who are mandated to report for duty as early as 7am everyday and with zero tolerance for lateness by multinationals interns risk the possibility of losing out in the scheme, this alone grooms them up for the future.

2. Network of Connections: Unlike graduate trainee programmes, securing a job after a successful Industrial Training in Nigeria is rarely guaranteed and so while the window of internship persists, interns seize the platform to fraternize and form cordial relationships with top officials and directors wherever they were placed. This bond strengthens with time and is capable of securing a future filled with roses for the students which sees them returning back to that firm after graduation for instant employment based on the sealed relationship from the onset.

3. Source of Income to students: From the monthly stipends being paid, students who are frugal with funds could actually save up a whole lot of cash that can come in handy someday.This saved cash can be used to foot bills after the IT, settle financial issues in the family, start up a business and pay up debts.

4. CGPA booster: The SIWES program is about a 4 credit unit course or more depending on the institution. It's very rare to see a student score any grade less than a B which can see a GPA rise exponentially.


CHALLENGES
Well the perks of the internship aren't void of challenges, matter of fact the challenge is the chief reason for this article and they include:

1. Lack of placement for students: One of the major challenges students encounter is not being able to secure a place for an IT program, it is not anomalous to see IT request letters from students being rejected by organizations and relevant companies compelling students to resort to undergoing the program with irrelevant institutions just to feel among and probably draft an IT report. Some of them exhaust the duration of the program searching for placement. One of the reasons for this is not far fetched; lack of connections to the men up there.


2. Students turned slaves: It is really worrisome to see students who came to acquire technical knowledge being used as slaves and errand boys by host companies thereby derailing and defeating the original intent and essence of the scheme. While it is a norm for students to run a few errands for their masters in the course of the training, it becomes an abuse if it is done too often than usual. The incessant use of students for frivolous activities and errands is servitude in disguise. I ponder at the possibility of any intern especially in technical fields mastering any skill abeit being used as a janitor, orderly, cook and even a DJ "My IT was a total mess, I spent it organizing birthday and house warming parties for officials and staffs of the company" a friend once lamented. "I was used as a DJ, MC and storekeeper all in the name of IT " another decried.


3. Irregular payment of stipends: Regular flow of incentives and stipends is necessary for encouragement and morale boosting of IT students, if this flow is truncated it undermines the student's zeal, some are encumbered with financial burdens, transportation to and fro the work location needs a vibrant purse as some of this organizations are sited in the heart of the city. Running the numerous errands on empty intestines could be hazardous too. This challenge is so grave and halting the scheme prematurely is inevitable in such cases.




THE WAY FORWARD
Internship in Nigeria has great prospects ahead if and only if the challenges are tackled head on. The process should be overhauled and streamlined. The maximum cooperation of firms, companies, multinationals, banks,schools are highly needed to curb the issue of students not securing a place for the program, they are interns and not job seekers, the process should be smooth and less rigid for them, on the flip side they are coming to assist the work force increase production as most of them are being stretched to their limits by their bosses handling tasks past closing hours. The allowances most imperatively should be consistent and organizations should ensure that their interns are being taught the necessary technical know-hows, creating a portfolio to manage students interns won't be a bad idea. The SIWES program in Nigeria exposes undergraduates to the real world out there. The experience, the knowledge, the thrill is really worth it's salt but a critical scrutiny into the associated issues will make it more tasty.


Spiff Anderson
University of Calabar, Nigeria

pls i need legit sites that does the online survey

Fools, Trump has no idea if you Igbos exists. they didn't shoot you guys very well enough.

Did the 19year old report her to the police or they we're caught in the act? this story is weird. how did they enjoy with a knife in her Hand. at one point the knife must have dropped to pave way for intense pleasure and the dude would have withdrawn but no he went on now this fine girl is about to go to jail. rubbish

Uniport is really beautiful, nice structures. not bad.

nice

azeeza:
My state is prettyful inside/out

couldn't agree more with you

But Ibadan take style make sense oh... hmmm Afonjas.

sinaj:
yea

that's cool, same here. I'm mailing you right away we need to talk.

sinaj:
hmmm... forward ur fone number to sinajchinda@gmail.com. will call u tomoro

so you are from ikwerre.

Legitbaba:
exactly my thought ..and the last time I checked, Unimport had no law faculty...so I no know how e go be oh...
do U.P have law faculty now??

yea they have now.

How do I submit my blog to sitemap na, Op elucidate on 1 and 2

Mods pls help send this to front page let's continue to sensitize our youths.

But RSUST is not a federal university na why should they be involved?

Why should they be offering all this courses in the first place? it doesn't make sense

This list is not a must do but it's necessary

1. PUBLIC SPEAKING: Being able to express yourself in public is one quality every school certificate holder in the 21st century must possess not just graduates but for the sake of the context here I shall limit it to them. It doesn't matter if you studied engineering or English, learn how to articulate properly in public, you can start by giving testimonies in your fellowship or making departmental announcements to your coursemates, this will help sharpen your vocabulary and ease off some stage frights. Someday you'll be called upon to come deliver a speech or make a toast and if you mess it up don't be surprised to welcome questions like "so you are a graduate and you can't even express yourself effectively in public? Your questioner doesn't give a hoot if you read physics or linguistics he or she just expects you to know. Attending public speaking seminars would also help a great deal too.

2. KNOW HOW TO WRITE: Yea I said that, you might want to ask but I write exams? Notes? Test? Well this is absolutely different. Know how to write memos,notices,application letters,resumes,cover letters,short notes on general topics etc no one will sit you down like a kid and teach you all this and the society will laugh you to scorn for your ineptitude in writing. Stories like "A graduate not being able to fill out a simple form, a graduate who can't spell his full name properly, a graduate who can't write a simple quit notice or application letter" are not uncommon in our dear Nigeria today and guess what? You'll be a source of comic relief to some Nigerians who are plagued by recession or other endemic woes . The earlier you glean up some writing skills the better for you.

3. ACQUIRE COMMON SENSE: So you couldn't afford common sense in your parents house probably due to over pampering, hey teen! You are now out of their custody, no longer tied to mums apron strings, you are now a man/woman out there in a world of yours void of the pampering and prying eyes of mum/dad. You'll be expose to some harsh realities of life, you'll have a lot to do on your own, you'll have to learn some management skills (5k per month scenario) for the poor and for the rich you'll also know that not everything money can buy. In this phase of your life, if you still fail to imbibe some common sense, be tactful in handling tough situations and be prudent in judgement? Then you'll be that fool at 40 who might turn out to be the eternal fool. I like this part "So you mean as a graduate I cannot send you to the market to buy this simple things without you been cheated, you are now a graduate, don't expect me to be handling all this minor issues at home when I have someone like you" trust our Nigerian parents their money can't go for nothing.

4. MASTER SOME SKILLS: This issue has received lots of trashing in various seminars, talk shows and entrepreneurship summits so I'll just chew on it a little. Entrepreneurship study is one course being thought across various universities in Nigeria, no matter how frivolous it may seem grab the little skill you can out of it and hone, it might come in handy tomorrow. If you aren't satisfied with it use your vacation and spare time to learn some more. Get practical knowledge of your course else where if you can, and if the practicals offered in school are nothing to go by. You read electrical engineering, your dad has told the technician not to worry that his son who's a graduate of electrical engineering is returning soon and will fix the faulty fuse box or connections in the house, he has no idea if you were taught or not, he just knows you are an electrical engineer and you are suppose to know how to fix such things. Same with you that read computer science, that roadside computer geek won't eat his money anymore for little laptop issues, you are on board now. Gather the knowledge and skills while you have the time.

5. BE ON THE KNOW: Lots of graduates are totally ignorant of happenings in their immediate and external environment. They don't read newspapers both offline and online, they don't watch news channels on TV, they don't read articles and columns they are just plain dumb about the world. Most graduates don't even know who Donald trump is, oh did I go too far? I bet you some don't know who saraki is. Names like chimamanda, seun, Allepo in Syria, ISIS, Larry page, zuckerberg, Akufo-addo, occulus rift, drones might not ring a bell in their ears which is quite disappionting. You must not know everything about something but know a little about lots of things even if it's a pinch of it. Know about God, politics, fashion, cars, careers, sports, entertainment, inventions, tourism, health, foreign affairs, games name them, don't just polarize your knowledge to your discipline and become a complete ignoramus in other areas. The world is advancing, information has always been an invaluable asset to holders and will continue to be, who knows, you and your employer might have mutual likes and dislikes which will cause you both to instantly connect on a conjugal note and probably land you that dream job, ask Ben Carson about his internship placement. Last time I checked no knowledge has been a waste. Above all your knowledge of God should be most paramount

feel free to add yours

source: https://educareersblog./2017/01/08/5-things-you-should-be-equipped-with-before-graduating/

wisdomguy4u:
with all due respect , your level of reasoning stinks bro. with such level reasoning , I doubt you will succeed in anything in life.

really? coming from a failure himself, that you've failed is not a warranty to think of everyone as failures. perhaps you'll brand Tim lahaye a failure too.

Agozie48:
Me am back to my shell I even thought I was trying to reason with a Human Being.

yea go back to your shell you talk out of point.

Agozie48:
What do Warren Buffet, Bill Gates, and Mark Zuckerberg all have in common? In addition to being some of the most successful entrepreneurs in the world, all three are introverts.

Are they doing any of the things listed? you need rest sir

Agozie48:
Mr op swallow your pride and admit that you copied something you have no idea about , you are not God who determines what someone should do and not do. Take correction ,being an introvert doesn't make that person less successful in life , You are just a confused fellow

Awww it wasn't copied, I'm not determining what anyone should do, it's just about knowing what works for you and going for it. never mentioned you can't be successful in life I can't determine anyone's destiny. it's like telling a stammerer that having a career in broadcasting is cool.

paulhq:
Before I proceed, please be aware that am not attacking you, at least not aggressively...

1) Are you an introvert? If yes, how did you know? And if an 100% introvert, how did you know you are? If not, then either you refer us to the person who wrote the article, or you answer this question: do you think it is fair that a person from a different perspective speak for another group and make it fact rather than see from theirs?

2) The Tim Lahaye, I respect him, but it's either you (or someone) misinterpreted his book, or he is wrong to make an assumption on behalf of more than 7 billion people in the world based on some few thousands he researched. Or maybe he really didn't make it fact, his theory is "if people have one tendency to do this, then they are more likely to have more tendencies to do that"

3) I would have supported your post a little ... if it didn't make some wrong assumptions that people having over the years always had about introverts (once again, are you one?)

1. MARKETTING: ....
You are bad at relating with strangers, you find it difficult to smile
without a reason and to crown it all you
are a pessimist which means you have no
option than to fail at this

but sir, why didn't you tell me options are finished, my igbo brothers can manufacture new ones

2. MEDICINE: ....
The warm
smiles, the jovial attitudes, the lively and
fun personalities of the extroverts do have
a psychological effect on patients whether
you choose to believe it or not and you
clearly don’t possess any of these
qualities.


"clearly" abi? Please the writer should send us his personal goggles, maybe then I will clearly see where I lost my N20 I wanted to buy groundnut with the other day.

3. ACTING: ....

How do you
handle the limelight attentions, interviews,
exposure and some of the hazards that
come with being a celebrity. Well since you
have a knack for depression, what
becomes of you when your daily life is
being dissected and misconstrued by the
public via social media on a daily basis?
I’m looking at a scenario where you call it
quits at the peak of your acting career
because of depression and the public
poking into your dear private life which is
such a shame if you ask me


seriously?

4. POLITICS: ....

Why should you be thinking of
this when you are a greenhorn at cheer
leading and you are socially incapacitated


you don't mean it, tell me more

5. BUSINESS
Being successful in business
demands the risk taking habits of socially
inclined people not the pessimic nature of
introverts who will first look at the cons


what is the pessimic nature you keep talking about, is it a type of food, a skin color, is it something people are born with, is it an atomic bomb... it sounds pretty terrible God whyyyyyy.... why did you create me like this... so you mean am stuck as a worker and I can never be an entrepreneur, you mean I can't achieve my dreams because I have a "personality handicap"


In conclusion, being an introvert, even 100%, is not an handicap.
An extrovert can and will also fail in these professions if they don't do well.
And guess what, from my personal experience, what I've seen others, and research I made which you can also make... three strengths (among others) of an introvert are writing, speaking and acting... and creativity. As a matter of fact, an introvert is more likely to succeed at anything if they put their mind to it.

Hay, guess what, Bill Gates and Nelson Mandela are introverts... don't argue this one, I have their books on my table here.

So in the end, just admit that you copied the post from somewhere... and we can all be friends again
before the pros

your attempt at showing how clever you are was futile. First we aren't friends and 2nd I didn't copy. I don't expect you to believe me cos most copy and paste bloggers have made originality a trash. you mentioned bill gates and Mandela they told you they were 100% phlegs? try next time bro

Teempakguy:
someone already said this before and it's worth repeating: introverted does not equal antisocial. if you're so "introverted" that you cannot do any of these jobs at all, then even your daily life will suffer and your quality of life Will be lower than it should be.

I like the list, though.

so introverts are social? first to initiate convos? like to be in crowd?

Deejay1000:
@ Op I am an introvert and i can do some of this things you listed if not all of them.. change is a constant thing in life you can't just hide in the shadow of an introvert and say things . i know talk is cheap but if you put your mind to anything in life you shall surely succeed.
at a point in life you'll have to be an extrovert . . come out of your shall and do what u haven't done before. #peace

it's either you are a blend of both or you are lying about doing all of them.

Agozie48:
@OP this is very ridiculous and stupid who says that being an introvert makes it impossible to succeed in any of these things . Am an introvert and over 10 years and counting am I have been running a business and its a very successful one. You say an introvert cant make a good doctor . let me tell you medicine is the best career choice for an introvert because he or she will connect and empathise with his or her patients. The Extroverts we have as doctors are the ones who make a mess of public hospitals with their rude attitude and the fact that they seem to show less concern towards their patients. Don't joke with an introvert because he or she can show you the best and great qualities of themselves when they need to . Being an introvert doesn't make you less of a human being or doesn't make you less successful . I know many introverts who have succeeded in all these career and are still rocking .

bro you not entirely an introvert or you don't even know who you are. no need for name calling no one is fighting with you.

makoota:
Nonsense post. So what can introverts do then. Stupid thought. An introvert can't do business, become a doctor, be an actor or actress, be politician and so on according to ur thought so what can they do then. Mtsweeeh

A whole lot, writers, editors, engineers, technicians, inventors, manufacturers, secretaries so many

Anyone can succeed in any career choice introvert or not if there's a God factor and God in his diverse creations made everyone different and unique, some are ambivalent (50% intro 50%extro) vert, some are 80% 90% introverts and the remaining percent are made up of extroverted traits. Those are the only exceptions. So if your entertainers are mostly introverts then they are a blend of both.

webincomeplus:
So many things are easier to say than do. Why not get yourself into any of those careers first? Introverts who cope with those careers are those who are willing to change slightly (at least) to extroverts.

And one more thing: it's one thing to think you're an introvert, and it's another to be one in reality.

thanks man for the light shedding

jossey94:
Nawa oo. This is a very ignorant post. So, because of my introverted nature, I will not succeed in any of those 5 careers. Balderdash. You really need to understand that nobody is 100% introverted and introverts do handle themselves well in social situations when they need to do so, usually for their careers and their families. The one about doctors is just silly. As an introvert, I would connect more easily with my patients because in my experience, I v found that I tend to empathize more with people. This would make it easier to form relationships with patients. Also, introverts do smile. Lack of smiling is not a trait of introverted people, but rather a personal choice.

You need to educate yourself more on the subject before coming on NL to put up an article.

Highly disappointing article.

FP, Really?!!!

There are introverts that are a combination of melancholy and phlegmatic temperaments those are the ones I'm referring to, they are extremely dull naturally, don't smile without a reason and are socially withdrawn. There are introverts that are also a blend of melancholy and sanguine too. read my caveat, I specifically mentioned the later as my focal point. so all of you claiming to do all these successfully are not fully introverted, you all are blends of either choleric or sanguines. Tim lahaye's book about temperament should you a bit. it's a must read for everyone.