A new social initiative in Nigeria has been launched to connect students seeking internships with companies looking for young talent.
Objectives of the Initiative
The founders of the initiative, including Tunde Onakoya and Akintunde Sultan, shared that the aim is to help young Nigerians gain access to internship and SIWES program opportunities in their fields of interest. Akintunde Sultan noted that this is 'simply a social movement' aimed at using their networks to bridge the gap between student needs and job vacancies.
How the Connection Process Works
The initiative will utilize various channels, including social media, to gather information about companies’ needs for interns. A special Google form has been prepared for organizations to indicate open roles and candidate requirements. Tunde Onakoya also mentioned that they are calling on companies to participate in the selection process, noting that 'talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t.'
Current Outcomes and Future Plans
The initiative has already received submissions from over 200 companies, and organizers hope to see increasing interest. It's important to note that the project does not have a formal structure yet and is not commercial. Akintunde Sultan explained that this is more about social good than business, adding: 'We will continue looking for ways to improve our work.' Currently, they are not following up with interns as their focus is on connecting students with opportunities.
This initiative could represent an important step for students in Nigeria seeking practical experience and skill development in an environment where access to opportunities is limited.
