The Why in Internship: From Ojuelegba to Naval Dockyard
Internships are often seen as a bridge between school and the professional world. But for me, they have become something deeper: a journey of perspective. From watching roadside mechanics in Ojuelegba, to technical college frustrations, to interning today at Naval Dockyard Limited, my path has been full of lessons that go beyond classrooms and machines.
Roots in Ojuelegba
That curiosity stayed with me. At home, I would dismantle toys and appliances (often leaving traces behind and getting caught 😅). My parents noticed and decided to invest in me by sending me to a technical college instead of a conventional secondary school.
A Detour in Technical College
At the technical college, I was enrolled in the Painting and Decorating department. As a teenager, I was upset - wondering how spray painting could ever relate to my ambition of becoming an engineer. Still, spray painting became one of the courses I did and, unknowingly, planted seeds that would resurface later in my journey.
The Road to Materials Engineering
After graduation at Federal Science and Technical College (FSTC) Yaba, I sought admission into Yaba College of Technology for Mechanical Engineering. Life swung me again - this time into Metallurgical Engineering. I was frustrated once more with the system, and the HND vs. B.Sc. discrimination made me feel insecure.
After completing my OND, I transferred to the University of Lagos to continue in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering. Somewhere between my ND program and my university journey, I picked up a hobby of shooting videos, which gave birth to what is today MideCali and MideCali Engineer.
Facing the Reality of Internships
When my time to intern came, the journey wasn’t easy. Applications abroad were declined, and locally, rejection was sometimes as bad as security guards tossing our letters into bins. I wasn’t there to take anyone’s job, just to learn. But these experiences discouraged me, and I began asking:
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Why do we chase only the “big” companies?
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Why don’t schools recognize the value of roadside engineers?
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Is it bias that keeps their experience unrecognized, just because they lack certificates?
Lessons from Roadside Technicians
During an internship at Nigeria Gas and Steel, I was trained by technicians with little or no formal education. Their first advice to me was simple:
“Tijani, everything you were taught in school, put it aside. Lower your ego and learn from experience.”
Day after day, they solved problems without client complaints. I realized that with capital and opportunity, many of these technicians could run thriving businesses and innovate in ways that formal engineers sometimes overlook.
The Rat Race of Formal Internships
As engineering students, most of what we learn in classrooms is theory. In companies, we operate machines we may never personally own - preparing for a 9-5 cycle that doesn’t always foster entrepreneurship.
But what if we bridged the gap? What if educated engineers learned from roadside technicians - not to look down on them, but to understand their system and improve it? That’s where innovation lies. Uber didn’t invent taxis, it simply enhanced an existing system.
The Role of Metallurgical & Materials Engineering
Every machine, every ship, every engine, every structure is only as good as the materials it’s made from. We study their properties, test their performance, and ensure they can withstand real-life service conditions. Without that backbone, no engineering innovation can truly last.
This realization continues to shape my perspective. Whether with roadside technicians, in the classroom, or here at Naval Dockyard, the unifying factor is always materials.
My Journey at Naval Dockyard
What’s even more fascinating is how life comes full circle. Back in technical college, I was placed in the Painting and Decorating department. At the time, I was frustrated, questioning how spray painting could ever relate to engineering. Fast forward to today, and that same skill is resurfacing in unexpected ways — reminding me that no knowledge is ever wasted.
Working here has shown me the scale and precision required in marine engineering, but it has also reinforced the same lesson I learned years ago in Ojuelegba: engineering is about people as much as machines. From the roadside mechanics to the dockyard professionals, the common thread is collaboration, discipline, and problem-solving.
For me, Naval Dockyard isn’t just an internship. It’s a bridge — between theory and practice, between classrooms and communities, between my early frustrations and my present growth.
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Conclusion
The bigger picture remains clear: internships should not just prepare us for jobs; they should broaden our perspective, helping us see opportunities, innovate, and build solutions that last.
Cheers to growth, grit, and perspective. 🚀
Tijani-Bello G.A.
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