Students of the National Open University of Nigeria participating in the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme should ensure that their placement and ITF records are completed correctly.
The Industrial Training Fund recently conducted a SIWES orientation for NOUN students at the Port Harcourt Study Centre. According to NOUN’s report published on 21 August 2026, the session covered SIWES objectives, procedures, student responsibilities and workplace expectations.
The official ITF SIWES portal also provides online registration, placement-request facilities, downloadable documents and information about approved disciplines.
What SIWES is designed to achieve
The Industrial Training Fund describes SIWES as a skills-training programme intended to expose students to practical work connected to their courses.
Its objectives include helping students:
• Acquire relevant industrial skills and experience.
• Apply academic knowledge in real workplaces.
• Become familiar with equipment and methods that may not be available at their institutions.
• Prepare for professional working environments.
• Develop contacts that could support future employment.
• Understand employers’ expectations before graduation.
SIWES should therefore be treated as supervised academic training—not merely a requirement to complete before graduation.
First confirm that your course requires SIWES
Not every programme or course is automatically covered by SIWES.
The ITF portal publishes lists of disciplines approved by the National Universities Commission and other supervisory agencies. University-level fields displayed on the portal include Agriculture, Engineering and Technology, Environmental Sciences, Medical Sciences, Sciences, Veterinary Medicine and selected Education programmes.
Examples shown by ITF include Computer Science, Nursing, Industrial Chemistry, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Technical Education and Business Education.
NOUN students should still confirm their individual requirement through their faculty, study centre or the university’s SIWES coordination channel. The ITF list does not replace NOUN’s programme-specific instructions.
What students should do before starting
Before reporting to an organisation:
1. Confirm that SIWES is required for your programme.
2. Obtain NOUN’s current instructions and approved training period.
3. Check whether the proposed organisation provides work related to your discipline.
4. Complete any required placement or acceptance documentation.
5. Confirm who will supervise your work.
6. Obtain the correct logbook and supporting forms.
7. Record the organisation’s verified address and contact details.
8. Ask how institutional and ITF supervision will be conducted.
Do not begin training based only on a verbal promise from an unverified company.
Registering on the official ITF portal
The official portal says students already placed with organisations should create an account and complete their information using the Student Commencement Attachment Form process.
Students should:
1. Visit the official ITF SIWES portal: https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/
2. Select the student-registration option.
3. Enter accurate personal, institutional and placement information.
4. Use an email address and telephone number they control.
5. Provide bank information only through an authorised ITF or institutional process.
6. Review all details before submission.
7. Save any acknowledgement or reference generated.
The ITF student-information page says students may need to provide their bank name, account name, NUBAN account number and sort code through their institution’s SIWES channel.
Students should never send these details to a stranger claiming to be an ITF agent.
How to look for a SIWES placement
The official ITF portal includes a facility through which students can request an attachment. It asks for information such as the student’s name, matriculation number, level of study, institution, telephone number, email address, course of study, nearest ITF area office and preferred business line.
The portal also displays organisations that have indicated an interest in accepting SIWES students.
However, a public listing should not be treated as a guarantee that an employer is genuine, currently accepting students or suitable for a particular NOUN programme.
Before travelling or submitting documents:
• Contact the organisation through independently verified information.
• Confirm the address and responsible officer.
• Ask whether the vacancy is still available.
• Confirm that the duties match your course.
• Avoid paying a personal account for placement.
• Inform the appropriate NOUN SIWES official.
Important SIWES documents
The ITF resources page provides student documents including:
• SCAF: Used in recording the commencement of a student’s attachment.
• Form 8: ITF directs students to complete it accurately and submit it to the appropriate area office.
• SIWES logbook: Used to record training activities and experience.
Students should follow the instructions given by NOUN and ITF concerning when each document must be completed, signed or submitted.
Do not wait until the final week to reconstruct months of logbook entries.
How to maintain a useful logbook
A strong SIWES logbook should reflect the work actually completed.
For each relevant period:
• Record the task or activity.
• Explain what you learned.
• Identify equipment, software or procedures used.
• Add diagrams where appropriate.
• Note safety instructions.
• Obtain required supervisor comments and signatures.
• Keep the writing clear and truthful.
Do not copy another student’s entries if you did not perform the same work. False records may create academic and professional problems.
Protect your payment and identity information
Use only the official siwes.itf.gov.ng domain for ITF online processes.
Students should not:
• Pay an unofficial agent to “activate” their SIWES record.
• Share an OTP or portal password.
• Send bank details through an unknown WhatsApp number.
• Allow someone to register with false information.
• Pay for a fabricated workplace acceptance letter.
• Hand over original documents without keeping copies.
If someone claims to represent ITF, verify the person through the official area-office directory or institutional SIWES coordinator.
Common mistakes to avoid
• Starting without confirming that the placement is acceptable.
• Choosing an organisation unrelated to the course.
• Registering with incorrect matriculation or bank details.
• Leaving the logbook blank until the end.
• Missing supervision or document-submission instructions.
• Assuming every employer displayed online has been independently verified.
• Paying for signatures without completing real training.
• Losing copies of submitted forms.
What NOUN SIWES students should do now
Students currently preparing for SIWES should:
1. Confirm their programme requirement.
2. Obtain NOUN’s current instructions.
3. Check their placement and supervisor details.
4. Create or review their ITF student record.
5. Download the necessary documents.
6. Begin keeping copies of every form.
7. Verify unfamiliar employers before visiting them.
8. Contact the nearest official ITF office when clarification is required.
Official sources
NOUN report on the ITF SIWES orientation:
https://nounnews.nou.edu.ng/index.php/article/itf-orientates-noun-students-siwes-port-harcourt-study-centre
ITF SIWES portal:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/
Student information:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/Identity/LandingPage/studentmore
SIWES student documents:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/Identity/LandingPage/Resourses
Student placement request:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/Identity/LandingPage/studentRequest
Approved disciplines:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/Identity/LandingPage/courseland
ITF area-office directory:
https://www.siwes.itf.gov.ng/Identity/LandingPage/contact
