Safety-Focused Industrial Maintenance Programme (SIMP)
Programme Info
The Safety-Focused Industrial Maintenance Programme (SIMP) is a 12-month practical technical training programme designed to equip young people with the technical and safety skills required to work in industrial and maritime-related environments.
The programme is delivered by the Institute for Industrial Technology (IIT), Lagos, in partnership with the African Development Foundation (ADF), with support from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation (LRF).
SIMP combines practical technical training, industry-led webinars and structured industry placement. Participants develop skills in industrial maintenance, electrical and mechanical systems, power electronics, hydraulics, pneumatics, sensors and programmable logic controls (PLC), while health and safety is embedded throughout the programme.
The programme is designed to address the need for skilled, safety-conscious technical personnel in Nigeria’s growing industrial and maritime sectors.
Industrial maintenance technicians can work as:
- Industrial Maintenance Technician
- Electrical Maintenance Technician
- Mechanical Maintenance Technician
- Automation/PLC Technician
- Electrical Control Technician
- Technical Operator
- Plant Maintenance Technician
- Facilities Maintenance Technician
- Marine Maintenance Technician
- Technical Service Technician
- Equipment Maintenance Technician
Benefits of this Programme
- Develop practical industrial maintenance skills through hands-on training.
- Become multi-skilled in mechanical, electrical, electronics and automation technologies.
- Develop safety-conscious working practices for industrial environments.
- Learn from industry professionals through specialist webinars and knowledge exchange.
- Gain real workplace experience through structured industry placement.
- Develop professional work ethics, discipline and teamwork.
- Build pathways to employment in industrial and maritime-related sectors.
Target Participants
SIMP is primarily intended for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds with an interest, education or experience in technical and industrial fields.
Suitable candidates may include:
- Young people with technical or vocational education.
- Graduates or students of technical and engineering disciplines.
- Junior technicians and aspiring maintenance personnel.
- Candidates nominated by participating industrial or maritime companies.
- Other candidates who demonstrate suitable technical aptitude and commitment.
Participants must be able to commit to the complete 12-month programme.
Programme Structure
1. Technical Training – 6 Months
Practical and theoretical training at IIT covering industrial maintenance, electrical and mechanical systems, automation, control technologies and industrial health and safety.
2. Industry Placement – 4 Months
Participants undertake structured placements with participating industrial, manufacturing or port-sector employers, applying their skills in real workplace environments under supervision.
3. Knowledge Exchange & Graduation – 1 Month
Participants complete final assessments and reports and take part in a knowledge-exchange workshop with industry professionals before graduation.
Industry Webinars
Industry partners will contribute specialist webinars covering selected areas including:
- Industrial Health and Safety
- Marine Terminology, Seamanship and Vessel Operations
- Marine Fire Prevention and Suppression
- Marine Safety and Emergency Procedures
- Marine Gearboxes
- Auxiliary Boiler Systems and Thermal Oil Heaters
- Marine Diesel Engines
- Marine Cooling, Refrigeration and HVAC
- Customer Service and Service Operations
Modules
- Industrial Health and Safety
- Maintenance Operations and Management
- Technical Blueprint Reading
- Work Values and Ethics
- Mechanical Measurements and Fittings
- Fundamentals of Electricity
- Power Electronics
- Electrical Wiring and Installations
- Mechanical Drives and Power Transmission
- Pumps and Compressors
- Industrial Hydraulics
- Industrial Pneumatics and Sensor Technology
- Electrical Motor Controls, Maintenance and Troubleshooting
- Fundamentals of Engines
- Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning
- Programmable Logic Controls (PLC)
- Variable Speed AC Drives
- Industry Internship
Certification
IIT awards a Certificate in Safety-Focused Industrial Maintenance to participants who successfully complete the required training, examinations, industry placement and final programme activities.
Start Date
October 5th, 2026
Requirements
Applicants should:
- Have a minimum of an Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or an equivalent technical background.
- Demonstrate an interest in industrial maintenance, engineering or related technical fields.
- Have the ability to participate in practical workshop activities.
- Demonstrate good attitude, discipline and willingness to learn.
- Be willing to comply with IIT's health, safety and workshop regulations.
- Be available for the full 12-month programme.
Relevant technical education or experience will be an advantage.
Tuition
Supported by a grant from the Lloyd’s Register Foundation.
20 places are available for the pilot cohort.
Details of admission, scholarship support and any applicable participant contribution will be communicated to successful candidates.
Enrolment
Admission is through a selection process, which may include application screening, technical aptitude assessment and interview.
Industry organisations may nominate candidates and participate in the programme by delivering specialist webinars and supporting industry placements.