Andela records over 40,000 applications for tech based internship

In a bid to increase participation in Nigeria’s tech space, Andela, a software developer management company, introduced a four months technology based internship program which received over 40,000 applications for admission this year.

Andela represents a new breed of tech savvy companies with innovative approach to talent management emerging from Yaba Lagos who aim to provide capacity in software development.

Seni Sulyman, director of operations at Andela, in a chat with BusinessDay recently said that the company was striving to achieve a critical balance between improving access for Nigerians into the program and ensuring that the standards are not watered down.

“While not lowering the bar, we are working towards increasing information about our processes. We are moving towards open curriculum and even a fellowship that will have more women joining our programs,” Sulyman said.

“Andela is a story of people from all over the world coming together to solve a problem. This is one of our primary strength as a company, and in part why we have attracted investments from people like Zuckerberg,” said Iyinoluwa Aboyeji, one of founders of the company.

The company which recently secured a $24 million funding from Mark Zuckerberg foundation says the fund will go into talent development.

Andela provides talents for top IT firms around the world including Microsoft, Udacity, Google, 2U.

Sulyman says the company aims to seamlessly integrate its intakes into their client’s teams.

“Our aim is to ensure that our members provide the best support for our clients whether remotely or by physical implanting them with client teams. We even flying developers to client’s offices for a two-week onboarding session,” he said.

Andela offers clients the opportunity to scale up their team while minimizing hiring time and effort. Successful applicants are expected to be committed to the company for at least four years in a fellowship program and are placed to work remotely with a technological company that partner Andela.

The company’s Technical Leadership Program is designed to shape their intakes into an elite software developer. Through the training and work with top global technology companies, fellows master the professional and technical skills.

Upon successful completion of the Andela Fellowship, fellows have the option of continued training and employment with Andela, they can also start their own technology companies, working directly with client companies as employees or continue to help train software engineers as Andela.

ISAAC ANYAOGU