Tunde Onakoya, AltSchool’s Akintunde Sultan & Vendy’s Samuel Otigba Launch SIWES-Connect to Bridge Internship Gap
In a move aimed at tackling one of the biggest challenges facing Nigerian students and graduates—access to meaningful internship and SIWES (Student Industrial Work Experience Scheme) opportunities—three influential tech and social impact figures have joined forces to launch a grassroots initiative called SIWES-connect.
The initiative, founded by Tunde Onakoya (Chess-in-Slums Africa), Akintunde Sultan (Co-founder, AltSchool Africa), and Samuel Otigba (Vendy), seeks to match students and graduates in need of internships with organisations looking for fresh talent—all without bureaucratic hurdles or costly platforms.
A Simple, Powerful Idea Born from Social Networks
Speaking to Technext, Akintunde Sultan described SIWES-connect as more of a movement than a company or formal platform. The initiative is not backed by a tech product or structured organization—for now. Instead, it relies on the trio’s expansive personal and professional networks to create a pool of opportunities and direct them to young Nigerians who need them most.
“It’s something that we’re just starting. We don’t have it all figured out yet,” Sultan said.
“At the moment, we’re using our networks to share and make sure it gets to as many companies as possible. It’s not a company. It’s just a social initiative.”
The core objective is to break the cycle of unmatched talent and missed opportunities—a common problem in Nigeria’s education-to-work pipeline.
Talent is Universal, But Opportunity Is Not
In his announcement on LinkedIn, Tunde Onakoya emphasized the heart of the project: connecting untapped talent with opportunities they wouldn’t otherwise access.
“We all know that talent is universal, but opportunity isn’t,” Onakoya wrote.
“We are calling on all corporates, institutions, businesses, and organisations to partner with us. Help us find placement for these brilliant young minds so they can add value to your business.”
To streamline the matching process, the team created a Google Form through which companies can express interest in offering internship slots. Organisations are asked to indicate the roles available, as well as the structure of engagement (remote, hybrid, on-site).
No Website or App—Just Social Media & DMs
Currently, the entire process is being powered by social media—especially LinkedIn. To apply, students or interns simply need to comment “SIWES” or “Internship” under the relevant LinkedIn post. Once they do, the team shares available opportunities directly via their inbox.
“Some people are out there in need of an internship, and there is no specific place to pair them together,” Sultan explained.
“What we are doing is raising awareness, getting these openings, and sharing them with interns in real-time.”
Though basic in structure, the initiative is gaining traction. Over 200 companies have already submitted openings for interns, and more are expected to join the growing pool.
Free, Volunteer-Driven, and Still Growing
One key point that sets SIWES-connect apart is that no money is changing hands. There’s no subscription fee, no platform commission, and no expectation of payment from companies or interns.
“We’re not the companies, so this is just a social good,” Sultan said.
“The interns are not paying us, and the companies are not paying us for this. We’re test running it and trying to find ways to streamline and improve it.”
However, due to its informal nature, the team admits that they have no vetting mechanism for participating companies yet, nor any structured performance monitoring for interns. The focus, for now, is ease, speed, and impact.
What’s Next for SIWES-connect?
As a movement still in its infancy, SIWES-connect doesn’t yet boast the features of a tech-driven job platform. But what it lacks in polish, it makes up for in intention, reach, and authenticity.
The team hopes to formalize aspects of the initiative in the future—perhaps even building a digital platform to host opportunities in one place. But for now, the goal is clear: connect as many students as possible to real opportunities, fast.
Conclusion: A Community-Powered Solution to a National Problem
SIWES-connect is a refreshing example of Nigerians solving Nigerian problems without waiting for institutional permission or multi-million-dollar startups. By leveraging their social capital and networks, Onakoya, Sultan, and Otigba are bringing dignity, opportunity, and hope to hundreds of young people struggling to break into the workforce.
If you’re a business, startup, or organization with internship slots to offer, now’s the time to get involved.
How to Participate
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For Companies: Fill out the Google Form shared via the founders’ LinkedIn profiles.
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For Students/Graduates: Comment “SIWES” or “Internship” on the LinkedIn post to receive opportunities.
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