STUDENTS WORK EXPERIENCE PROGRAMME (SWEP) –
(A FOUNDATION FOR PRACTICAL EXCELLENCE).
The College of Engineering of Afe Babalola University, Ado-Ekiti, has formally declared open the 2011/2012 Students Work Experience Programme (SWEP) at Owolabi Hall in the Campus.
The four-week programme, taking place during the long vacation period, is first of its kind in the history of the University is aimed at exposing the 200 level students to practical activities in the major disciplines of Civil, Electrical/Electronics and Mechanical Engineering works involving masonry, carpentry, welding, machine operations and fittings. Others are woodwork, foundry, electrical wiring, equipment maintenance and repairs, etc, all within the University environment.
In his welcome address, the Provost of the College, Professor Israel Esan Owolabi, told the Students that SWEP is aimed at sharpening their skills in their chosen career and to engage them in workshop and outdoor manual labour thereby appreciating the dignity of labour. The programme will also help in developing the Students’ innovative and creative abilities necessary in today’s competitive Engineering world. He further explained that SWEP is a prelude to the Students’ Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) which is a mandatory programme of engineering training to be undertaken for a prolonged and continuous period of six months in their 400 level programme at various industries outside the campus. According to him, SIWES is designed to expose students to the world of work outside their campus academic activities, to enable them to integrate the theoretical academic curricula with real-life Engineering and Industrial Practices and to make them usefully employable after graduation.
Prof. Owolabi stated that this year’s SWEP is quite unique in that it provides the students the historic opportunity to be involved in the construction of their own Engineering Building Complex which is at the foundation stage. The students will take part in moulding blocks, setting up walls, welding metal parts, etc. He further stated the codes of conduct required of them during SWEP, the most essential being punctuality, dress code and their general conduct. Humility, courtesy and a sense of dignity of labour are necessary attributes of the engineer; any report of misbehaviour, rudeness or belligerence made by any non-student construction site worker against any student will attract serious penalty on such student.
He further announced that the training exercise which is part of the National Universities Commission (NUC) approved Programme for potential Engineers and Professionals of excellence attracts no special fee or extra levy from students since the cost of running the programme is already embedded in the amount paid by students under the Institutional Requirement provision of university fees. He warned them to adhere strictly to the codes of conduct guiding the programme and obey the rules and regulations of the University.
The Provost thanked the Founder, Aare Afe Babalola, for his numerous collaborative efforts with reputable International Engineering firms towards making the College a model to Engineering Institutions nationwide.
Prof. Owolabi promised that no stone will be left unturned to achieve the vision of the Founder for the College.
He expressed his appreciation to the Management and Staff of the University for their usual support and cooperation.
While declaring the Ceremony open, the Vice Chancellor, Prof Sidi Osho, congratulated the Provost and his team for the laudable programme which will eliminate arm-chair engineers in future.
She called on Provosts of the other Colleges in the University to emulate the pace-setting strides of the Engineering College by designing practical programmes that will enable their students to be job creators. She told them that “Rebuilding begins with Rethinking” hence possibility thinkers turn out to be great reformers.
The Vice-Chancellor promised not to relent in her efforts to propel the University to greater heights. Prof. Sidi Osho who also congratulated the Students for being lucky beneficiaries of this qualitative revolutionary Engineering programme reminded them that the pursuit of excellence requires hard work and dedication. She said until a mind is absolutely renewed, life cannot be practically transformed. The Vice Chancellor advised the students to imbibe the great virtues of the Founder which hinge on honesty, determination and impossibilities made possible and urged them to shun vices that will hinder them from deriving maximum enjoyment, fulfilment and benefit from the SWEP activities.
At the ceremony, a lecturer and Motivational Speaker, Dr. Adeoye, reminded the students that education will forever remove the scourge of poverty from the society. He opined that handwork enhances dignity and that success is earned through hard work and dedication. He advised them to be good ambassadors of their homes at all times while urging them to seize this opportunity to earn more skills which will distinguish and enhance their performance. Dr. Adeoye told them not to be discouraged by any odds on their way to success but be determined to be successful professionals whom ABUAD will be proud of.
On health, the Director of Health Services, Dr. Foluso Jubilee, told the potential engineers to embrace periodic checks of their health situations. She urged them to always wear their helmets and boots whenever they are on construction sites.
She announced her department’s preparedness to cooperate with the College in its bid to produce high quality Engineers that will showcase ABUAD’s educational qualities.
Contributing, a member of the Board of Trustees of ABUAD, Prof. Israel Orubuloye, who has been overseeing construction and infrastructural development in the University since inception, explained the rationale behind the design of the new Multi-Million Naira College of Engineering building under construction which he described as a massive, multi-storey complex.
He congratulated the Students and their Lecturers for being involved in the Engineering Building Complex which is presently at its foundation level.
Prof. Orubuloye urged them to be involved in other construction works going on, all over the campus, namely, Student hostels, Staff quarters, Cafeteria and the Sports Complex.
The ceremony was witnessed by a cross section of the University Community including the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Prof. Michael Ajisafe, the Registrar, Lady Christie Oluborode, the Director of Research & Extension, Prof. Ben Oso, the Acting Provost of College of Law, Associate Prof. Smaranda Olarinde and the Acting Librarian, Mrs. Zubair.