2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme

2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program

2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program: 2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program, https://kotokiven.com/gener8tor-cox-cleantech-accelerator-fall-2025/the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) has long served as a vital bridge between theoretical academic instruction and practical, real-world experience. Established in Nigeria to support students in science, engineering, technology, and other professional disciplines, SIWES programs are often a required component of higher education, enabling students to gain meaningful exposure to the workplace. In 2025, Kuda, Nigeria’s leading digital bank, has taken a bold and commendable step by launching the Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program. This initiative is designed to support Nigerian undergraduates with real-life experience in the tech-driven financial services sector.

Applications is now available for eligible candidates that are interested

This article offers an in-depth exploration of the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program, its objectives, eligibility criteria, application process, benefits, roles and responsibilities of participants, and how it aligns with national development goals. By the end, readers will have a full understanding of why this program is a game-changer for young Nigerian students.

About Kuda Bank

Founded in 2019, Kuda is a digital-only bank licensed by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and has grown to become one of the most influential fintech companies on the continent. With a mission to make banking accessible, affordable, and user-friendly, Kuda offers a wide range of financial services through mobile and web platforms. These include zero-fee banking, smart budgeting tools, instant loans, and an intuitive user interface.

As a forward-thinking, youth-centric financial institution, Kuda is highly invested in capacity building and technological innovation. Its venture into industrial training for students is a natural extension of its philosophy—empowering the next generation with skills that matter.

What Is SIWES?

The Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) is a skill-development program required by the Nigerian tertiary education system. It was initiated by the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in 1973 to solve the problem of lack of adequate practical skills among graduates. SIWES ensures that students in courses like engineering, computer science, accounting, mass communication, and others receive real-time work exposure as part of their degree requirements.

The goal is to:

• Prepare students for the labor market by equipping them with hands-on experience.

• Develop students’ capacity to adapt to workplace challenges.

• Foster innovation by linking academic institutions with industry.

Overview of the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program

The 2025 Kuda SIWES Program is a specialized initiative targeted at undergraduate students in Nigeria looking to complete their mandatory industrial training. Unlike traditional SIWES placements that often lack structure or relevance to a student’s course of study, the Kuda program is uniquely designed with a curriculum that reflects real-world industry needs.

Program Theme: “Innovating the Future of Finance Through Youth Empowerment”

This theme underscores Kuda’s belief in the transformative power of youth when equipped with the right tools and opportunities.

Objectives of the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program

1. Promote Digital Literacy and Financial Technology Skills:
   Participants are trained in modern financial technologies including digital banking platforms, APIs, cybersecurity, and data analytics.

2. Bridge the Gap Between Academia and Industry:
   Kuda brings students into a professional environment where theoretical concepts meet actual business operations.

3. Foster Creativity and Innovation:
   Interns are encouraged to contribute ideas, participate in hackathons, and work on real product features.

4. Encourage Career Development:
   Through mentorship, networking, and training, students build their professional profiles and enhance employability.

5. Support National Development Goals:
   By building youth capacity, the program aligns with Nigeria’s National Digital Economy Policy and Strategy (NDEPS).

Eligibility Criteria

To be considered for the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be a Nigerian citizen enrolled in a recognized tertiary institution (university, polytechnic, or college of education).

• Be currently pursuing a degree in Computer Science, Engineering, Finance, Business Administration, Economics, Marketing, or related disciplines.

• Have a valid SIWES/IT letter from their institution.

• Have completed at least 200 level (for universities) or ND1 (for polytechnics).

• Demonstrate passion for technology and innovation.

• Possess good communication and interpersonal skills.

Duration and Structure

The Kuda SIWES Program spans 3 to 6 months, depending on institutional requirements. It is designed in stages to maximize learning and development:

Stage 1: Orientation and Onboarding (Week 1)

• Introduction to Kuda’s mission, culture, and digital infrastructure.

• Compliance training, ethical guidelines, and workplace conduct.

Stage 2: Rotational Departmental Attachment (Weeks 2–12)

Interns are assigned to departments such as:

• Product Development

• Engineering & Software Development

• Customer Support

• Operations

• Marketing & Communications

• Finance & Risk Management

Stage 3: Project-Based Learning (Weeks 13–20)

Interns participate in group projects supervised by Kuda mentors. Projects may include:

• Building a mobile banking feature prototype.

• Conducting a market analysis.

• Developing a customer experience improvement plan.

Stage 4: Evaluation and Certification (Final Week)

• Performance appraisals by departmental heads.

• Presentation of project outcomes.

• Award of Kuda SIWES Certificate of Completion.

How to Apply

The application for the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program is conducted entirely online to ensure accessibility. Below is the application process:

1. Visit the official Kuda careers page or the SIWES portal on www.kuda.com.ng.

2. Create an account and upload required documents:

   • SIWES/IT placement letter.

   • Academic transcript or result slip.

   • A professional CV.

3. Write a statement of purpose (max 500 words) on your motivation to join the Kuda SIWES Program.

4. Submit application before the deadline (typically March 31, 2025).

5. Screening and virtual interviews are conducted in April.

6. Successful applicants begin training in June 2025.

Benefits of the Program

1. Practical Industry Experience

Interns work on real-time projects that impact Kuda’s customers. This gives them a taste of life in a fast-paced fintech company.

2. Monthly Stipend

To support student welfare, Kuda offers a monthly stipend to cover transportation and feeding.

3. Mentorship and Networking

Each intern is paired with a Kuda staff mentor. Interns also gain access to Kuda’s growing professional network of innovators and tech leaders.

4. Certification

Interns receive an official certificate, which adds value to their academic records and boosts their CVs.

5. Job Opportunities

Top-performing interns may be offered full-time roles or internships after graduation.

What Students Will Learn

The program offers a robust curriculum that focuses on technical and soft skills:

Technical Skills:

• Mobile app testing and software QA

• Customer relationship management (CRM)

• Basic coding and API usage

• Cybersecurity and data protection

• Digital marketing

Soft Skills:

• Communication and presentation

• Time and task management

• Team collaboration

• Problem-solving

• Adaptability in a digital work environment

Testimonials From Previous Interns

Blessing A., Computer Science Student – UNILAG (2024 Cohort):
“My time at Kuda changed the way I look at tech. I had the opportunity to work on a customer onboarding project and learned how design thinking is applied in fintech.”

Samuel O., Business Admin Student – UNIBEN:
“I didn’t just gain work experience—I found mentors and friends. I now understand how finance and innovation go hand-in-hand.”

How Kuda Is Revolutionizing Industrial Training

Kuda’s SIWES program stands out from typical industrial attachments. Here’s how:

This structured approach ensures students leave with valuable workplace competencies and a clear understanding of how industries operate.

Challenges Addressed by Kuda SIWES

Kuda’s program is designed to address multiple gaps in traditional SIWES models:

• Lack of quality placements: Many students are posted to unrelated fields.

• Poor supervision: Students often lack mentorship or guidance.

• No real deliverables: Kuda ensures interns work on measurable outcomes.

• Under-compensation: The program offers financial support to interns.

By tackling these issues head-on, Kuda is transforming industrial training into a meaningful career-launching opportunity.

Alignment with National Development

The 2025 Kuda SIWES Program aligns with several national objectives:

• Nigeria’s Vision 2030: Promotes inclusive economic growth through youth empowerment.

• National Youth Policy: Enhances youth employability and innovation.

• National Financial Inclusion Strategy: Educates youths on digital financial systems.

Future Prospects of the Program

As the world evolves rapidly through digital transformation and automation, the demand for industry-ready graduates with practical experience is growing exponentially. The 2025 Kuda SIWES Program not only addresses current challenges in Nigeria’s industrial training framework but also lays the groundwork for a future-forward approach to student development. Its prospects, therefore, extend beyond the immediate benefits of internships and touch on broader, long-term educational, technological, and socioeconomic goals.

1. Expansion Across Academic Disciplines

While the 2025 edition of the program is primarily tailored toward students in computer science, engineering, finance, business, and marketing, there are plans underway to diversify. Future editions of the program may include participants from less traditional disciplines such as psychology, education, arts, and law—especially in areas like UX research, behavioral finance, compliance, and content strategy. This diversification recognizes the increasingly interdisciplinary nature of work in the 21st century.

2. Partnerships with Higher Institutions

Kuda is actively engaging with universities and polytechnics across Nigeria to establish Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) for structured student placement. These partnerships aim to embed the SIWES program into formal academic frameworks, allowing students to earn credits, academic recognition, or elective units upon completion. Furthermore, this collaboration will promote curriculum updates that reflect real industry practices, helping to close the education-industry gap even further.

3. Virtual and Hybrid Internship Options

Given the growing importance of remote work, future cohorts of the Kuda SIWES Program will include virtual and hybrid models. These models will allow students from all regions of Nigeria, including remote or underserved communities, to participate without having to relocate. Interns will engage with their teams via digital collaboration tools, ensuring inclusivity while also simulating modern workplace realities. This will also allow Kuda to reach a larger pool of talent, thereby fostering diversity and equal opportunity.

4. Pan-African Reach

As Kuda expands its footprint beyond Nigeria into other parts of Africa, the SIWES program could evolve into a continental talent development initiative. By onboarding interns from Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, and other emerging markets, Kuda can promote cross-cultural learning, increase African fintech collaboration, and contribute to regional development. This broader outlook positions Kuda as a pioneer in grooming a pan-African digital workforce.

5. Integration with Kuda’s Talent Pipeline

One of the long-term visions of the SIWES program is to serve as a foundational recruitment channel for Kuda’s full-time roles. The organization aims to build a pool of well-trained, familiar candidates for junior-level positions across departments. Interns who excel during their industrial training may receive priority consideration for future employment, full-time internships, or graduate trainee roles—thus forming a reliable and cost-effective talent acquisition pipeline.

6. Innovation Hubs and Alumni Network

Kuda envisions establishing innovation hubs or internship labs dedicated to student-led projects and research. These labs will act as incubators for ideas born during the SIWES program. In parallel, Kuda also plans to develop a strong alumni network of past SIWES interns who can mentor newer interns, offer job referrals, or collaborate on entrepreneurial ventures. Over time, this network could become a significant ecosystem of innovation and leadership.

7. Research and Feedback for Policy Reform

Kuda is collecting data on intern performance, engagement, and impact to create feedback loops for policy reform. These insights could inform national discussions on improving SIWES across Nigeria. By sharing best practices with educational bodies and government regulators, Kuda positions itself as not just a participant but a thought leader in national talent development.

In summary, the future of the Kuda SIWES Program is bright and multifaceted. It holds promise not only for expanding opportunities for students but also for influencing how industrial training is perceived, structured, and implemented in Nigeria and beyond. With its focus on innovation, equity, and strategic growth, the program is set to become a benchmark for industrial attachment schemes across Africa.

Conclusion

2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program, the 2025 Kuda Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) Program represents a bold and transformative approach to bridging the long-standing gap between academic instruction and practical industry engagement in Nigeria. At its core, the program redefines what an internship should be—structured, inclusive, relevant, and deeply empowering. As Kuda continues to innovate in the financial technology sector, its investment in human capital development through SIWES stands out as a defining pillar of its corporate responsibility and national contribution.

One of the major successes of the 2025 edition is its strong alignment with both student needs and employer expectations. In today’s job market, employers consistently lament the disconnect between academic training and workplace readiness. By integrating students into real-world teams, assigning them meaningful projects, and providing continuous mentorship, Kuda is addressing this skills gap head-on. The result is a generation of students who not only understand theoretical concepts but can also apply them effectively in digital and collaborative environments.

Furthermore, the program’s intentional focus on inclusivity—through remote access, diverse departmental placements, and cross-functional team collaboration—ensures that no one is left behind. Kuda is democratizing access to career-building opportunities and in doing so, contributing to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth).

From the student’s perspective, the benefits are immense. Participants leave the program with enhanced technical proficiency, real-world experience, industry exposure, professional relationships, and, often, clearer career direction. For many, it is their first taste of corporate life, and the quality of the experience can shape their entire career outlook. When interns are mentored by experienced professionals and given the space to innovate, they transform into job-ready graduates equipped with confidence and competence.

On the corporate side, Kuda gains fresh insights, youthful creativity, and a deeper connection to the educational institutions shaping Nigeria’s future workforce. Moreover, the program supports Kuda’s branding as a socially responsible, youth-focused, and innovation-driven organization—attributes that resonate strongly with its customer base and stakeholders.

But perhaps the most remarkable feature of the Kuda SIWES Program is its scalability. What began as an opportunity for a few dozen students could soon evolve into a nationwide, and potentially continental, platform for youth empowerment. By developing an alumni network, investing in innovation hubs, and engaging in policy advocacy, Kuda is not just meeting short-term training goals; it is helping to shape the future of work in Nigeria and beyond.

In conclusion, the 2025 Kuda SIWES Program is more than just an internship—it is a blueprint for excellence in youth development, industry engagement, and educational reform. It empowers students to dream bigger, equips them with tools to execute their visions, and connects them with a future they can confidently shape. For students, educational institutions, and national stakeholders, Kuda’s model offers a compelling case study on how to truly prepare the next generation for the demands and opportunities of the digital age.