Last Updated: July 2026 | Verified from official company portals, ITF SIWES database, and 2026 recruitment data.
Are you a Nigerian undergraduate looking for SIWES placement or a first internship? Share this in your departmental WhatsApp group. It covers every major company, their CGPA requirements, and includes a cover letter template you can edit and send today. {alertInfo}
Getting an internship in Nigeria is harder than it should be. The ITF portal is confusing. Most companies never respond to cold emails. And nearly every guide online is just a list of company names copied from three years ago with no portal links, no CGPA cutoffs, and no indication of whether those companies even still take interns.
We went through the official careers pages ourselves. The CGPA cutoffs below come from each company's portal, not a senior's WhatsApp forward. The links were checked this month. And because the two things Nigerian undergraduates get wrong most consistently are their cover letters and their LinkedIn profiles, those get their own full sections here.
Whether you are in 200 level doing SIWES for the first time or a final year student trying to turn a placement into a job offer, start with the company table in Section 3 and work backwards from there.
Table of Contents
- 1. What is SIWES? (And what you must know about the forms)
- 2. How much do interns actually earn in Nigeria?
- 3. Top companies and their exact CGPA requirements
- 4. When to apply: the 3 recruitment windows
- 5. Documents you need before you apply
- 6. How to write a cover letter for an internship (with template)
- 7. How to build your LinkedIn profile as a student
- 8. Remote internship platforms for Nigerian students
- 9. The 10 skills employers actually want in 2026
- 10. Free certifications to get before you apply
- Frequently asked questions
1. What is SIWES? (And what you must know about the forms)
SIWES is the Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme. The Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has run it since 1973, and it is mandatory for undergraduates in sciences, engineering, agriculture, pharmacy, environmental sciences, and technology. If you are in one of these fields, you cannot graduate without completing it. University students do six months. Polytechnic students do four.
The three forms you cannot afford to lose
Everything runs through the ITF portal at siwes.itf.gov.ng. Three documents matter:
- Placement Letter (Form 002): Collect this from your institution's SIWES Directorate before you contact any company. No legitimate employer will take you seriously without it.
- Student Commencement of Attachment Form (SCAF): Download from the ITF portal once you secure your placement. Get your employer to sign it and submit it to the nearest ITF Area Office within days of resuming. Do not sit on this one.
- Form 8: The final evaluation document completed at the end of the program. Part A is yours. Part B is filled by your industry supervisor who grades your performance. Part C is filled by your university supervisor when they visit. Your ITF stipend does not get processed until Form 8 is submitted. A lot of students forfeit their allowance because they forget this step entirely.
ABUAD students: your SIWES coordinator's office handles geographical exemptions if you secure a placement in Lagos or Abuja. Present your official offer letter from the company. Do not go without one. Verbal promises from companies do not count. {alertWarning}
What about the ITF stipend?
The baseline ITF allowance is ₦15,000 for the entire six months. That is about ₦2,500 a month, which barely covers transport in Lagos. The ITF recently cleared a ₦1.1 billion backlog of owed payments, but the actual amount has not changed.
Your real income comes from whatever the company pays on top. That is what the next section covers.
2. How much do interns actually earn in Nigeria?
These are what companies actually pay above the ITF allowance. All figures are 2026 data.
| Sector | SME / mid-size | Large corp / multinational | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tech / Fintech | ₦50,000 - ₦80,000 | ₦120,000 - ₦200,000+ | Remote option saves you transport money |
| Oil and Gas | ₦50,000 - ₦80,000 | ₦100,000 - ₦200,000+ | Accommodation or travel allowances are common |
| Consulting (Big Four) | ₦50,000 - ₦90,000 | ₦90,000 - ₦120,000 | The brand name on your CV is the real pay |
| Telecoms | ₦50,000 - ₦90,000 | ₦90,000 - ₦120,000 | Data allowances and transport subsidies |
| Banking | ₦40,000 - ₦70,000 | ₦70,000 - ₦100,000+ | Subsidized lunch and structured training |
| FMCG / Manufacturing | ₦30,000 - ₦70,000 | ₦70,000 - ₦100,000 | Factory or supply chain exposure |
| Healthcare / Pharma | ₦20,000 - ₦40,000 | ₦40,000 - ₦70,000 | Clinical placements are often unpaid or token |
| Media / Creative | ₦20,000 - ₦50,000 | ₦50,000 - ₦70,000 | Portfolio value is the real payoff here |
| Govt (NJFP) | N/A | ₦150,000 flat | Nigeria Jubilee Fellows Programme |
The highest-paying placements are at tech multinationals (Google, Microsoft) and oil and gas majors (Shell, Chevron). A Shell intern in Port Harcourt can earn more in one month than some permanent hires at smaller companies. The companies know this. That is why their CGPA cutoffs are hard and their process takes months.
3. Top companies and their exact CGPA requirements
Check the CGPA Calculator to confirm exactly where your average sits before you apply. Most of the companies below run automated screening. A 3.49 gets rejected at the same stage as a 2.0 at KPMG or Shell. There is no appeals process for that.
Banking and financial services
| Company | Min CGPA | Age limit | Watch out for | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Access Bank | 3.0 / 5.0 | 26 years | They ask for your academic transcript upfront | careers.accessbankplc.com |
| GTBank | 2.5 / 5.0 | Not stated | Two corporate guarantors + NPC birth certificate | gtbank.com/careers |
| Zenith Bank | Varies by program | Not stated | IT proficiency and institutional attachment letter | zenithbank.com/careers |
| First Bank | Standard | Not stated | Branches nationwide, good option if you are not in Lagos | firstbanknigeria.com/careers |
| Stanbic IBTC | Competitive | Not stated | Online portal only. Walk-ins and email applications get rejected immediately | careers.standardbank.com |
GTBank has the lowest CGPA barrier of the major banks at 2.5. But the two corporate guarantors requirement trips up many students. These must be employees at reputable registered companies, not your relatives. Start sourcing them before you need them. {alertWarning}
Oil, gas and energy
| Company | Min CGPA | Disciplines | Watch out for | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shell Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | Engineering, Geosciences, IT, Sciences | You are reviewed at midterm and at the end. This is not a free ride. | shell.com.ng/careers |
| Chevron Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | Engineering, Supply Chain, Corporate | Application window opens around May and closes early June — it is currently closed for 2026. Expect an aptitude test after applying (harder than a regular school exam, practise ahead). Placements are usually in the Lagos and Warri offices. Upload your SIWES letter in the "cover letter" tab, not as a separate document. | careers.chevron.com (search "internship" when the window opens) |
| TotalEnergies | Not stated (very competitive) | Geosciences, Process Engineering, Green Energy, Finance | 300-level and 400-level only. Final year students cannot apply to some programs | careers.totalenergies.com |
| Addax Petroleum | 3.5 / 5.0 (or 70%) | Engineering, Geosciences, Social Sciences | Final year students are explicitly ineligible. You must have just completed second year. | https://vms.addaxpetroleum.com/applications/vms/registration.nsf/documents.xsp/ |
Shell, Chevron, and Addax all enforce a hard 3.5 cutoff through automated screening. If you are below 3.5, your application never reaches a human. Do not waste your time on these until your CGPA clears that line. Focus on building it first.
ABUAD Engineering and Pharmacy students: TotalEnergies runs a specific SIWES intake in February. Their Lagos and Port Harcourt offices recruit separately. Check ng.prosple.com for the live listing. {alertInfo}
Technology and fintech
| Company | CGPA | What they actually look for | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flutterwave | Skills over grades | Portfolio and problem solving ability in engineering, product design, finance | flutterwave.com/eu/careers |
| Paystack | Skills over grades | Technical portfolio and speed of execution. Competitive 6 month cohorts. | paystack.com/careers |
| Andela | Portfolio-driven | 40 hours/week commitment. Institutional intro letter is mandatory. | talent.andela.com |
| Google Nigeria (STEP) | CS fundamentals | Algorithm and data structure proficiency. 12 week intensive program. | careers.google.com/students |
| Microsoft (Interns4Afrika) | Technical assessment | High conversion rate to full time roles. Tests are administered online. | careers.microsoft.com |
| Interswitch | Competitive | Payment infrastructure and systems. Deep technical focus. | interswitchgroup.com |
The difference between tech companies and banks is simple: your GitHub or design portfolio carries as much weight as your transcript at Flutterwave or Paystack. If you have not started building one, start today. A GitHub with three clean, commented personal projects puts you ahead of 80% of applicants who show up with nothing but a CV.
Big Four consulting
| Company | Min CGPA | Age limit | Watch out for | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PwC Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | Under 24 | Five O'Level credits in ONE sitting. If you combined two sittings, they will disqualify you. Check yours before applying. | pwc.com/ng/en/careers |
| KPMG Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | Under 24 | Online essay assessment after application, then a telephone interview. | apps.ng.kpmg.com |
| Deloitte Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | Not stated | Psychometric aptitude tests followed by partner level interviews | deloitte.com/ng/careers |
PwC's O'Level rule catches people off guard. "Five credits in one sitting" means exactly what it says. If you sat WAEC twice to accumulate five credits, PwC will disqualify you regardless of your CGPA or degree class. Pull out your certificate and confirm before you spend hours on their application form.
FMCG and manufacturing
| Company | Disciplines | Selection process | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nestle Nigeria | Food Science, Engineering, Chemistry | Official SIWES letter + online aptitude test | nestle-cwa.com |
| Dangote Group | Mechanical and Chemical Engineering, Business | Varies by subsidiary (Sugar, Cement, Refinery) | dangote.com/careers |
| Unilever Nigeria | Marketing, Supply Chain, Commercial | Competency based interviews | unilever.com/careers |
| Nigerian Breweries | Engineering, Technical Operations | ITF-partnered. Strong technical skills program. | nbplc.com/careers |
Government, healthcare, telecoms and international orgs
| Company | CGPA / Requirement | What to know | Portal |
|---|---|---|---|
| MTN Nigeria | 3.5 / 5.0 | They want external tech certifications (Cisco, Microsoft) | mtn.ng |
| NNMDA (Govt Research) | 4.0 / 5.0 | Requires provisional pharmacist license and references from certified pharmacists | nnmda.gov.ng |
| IOM (UN Agency) | Degree-level enrollment | Covers travel, visa, and basic costs. Good for international relations students. | iom.int/internship-programme |
| Insightful3D Studio | Portfolio required | XR and 3D skills. Your creative portfolio replaces the transcript entirely. | insightful3d.com |
ABUAD Pharmacy students eyeing NNMDA: the 4.0 threshold is the highest on this entire list. Use the CGPA Calculator to confirm you clear it before you invest time in the application. And verify your provisional license status with PCN. Without it, NNMDA will not even process your application.
4. When to apply: the 3 recruitment windows
Nigerian corporate recruitment runs in cycles. Most students apply too late. Here is when each sector actually fills its slots:
| Window | Months | Who is recruiting |
|---|---|---|
| Peak window | October - December | Tech companies and oil and gas majors scout a full year in advance for the following summer |
| Consulting window | December - February | Big Four firms (KPMG, PwC, Deloitte) fill spots for their mid-year induction |
| General window | March - May | Local companies, SMEs, indigenous startups, mid-tier banks. Aligns with when university sessions end. |
Here is the mistake most students make: they wait until their SIWES letter is issued in April, then start applying in panic mode. By that point, Shell, Chevron, and the Big Four have already filled their slots. Those decisions happen in October through December. Mark your calendar. {alertWarning}
5. Documents you need before you apply
Get these together before any application window opens. Scrambling for documents after you get shortlisted is one of the most common reasons students miss offer deadlines.
- SIWES Application Form: Collect from your department or faculty SIWES coordinator. This starts the formal attachment request.
- Letter of Introduction (Placement Letter): Official stamp from your institution confirming your enrollment, academic level, and SIWES eligibility.
- Academic Transcript: The Big Oil, Big Four, and bank applications all need this. Must show your CGPA. An unofficial copy does not work for those. Read the ABUAD grading system guide to understand how your CGPA converts to a degree class before you send it out.
- University ID Card: Combined with NIN for corporate security clearance at most multinationals.
- Updated CV: One page. Reverse chronological. No graphics or colors. See the cover letter section below for formatting rules.
- Cover Letter: See the template below. It is mandatory for every Big Four and oil and gas application.
Use the Assignment Tracker to manage your internship deadlines alongside your coursework. Multiple companies, multiple deadlines, and your departmental SIWES submission date can all overlap dangerously in March.
6. How to write a cover letter for an internship (with template)
Recruiters in Lagos spend about seven seconds scanning an internship CV before making a decision. The cover letter gets slightly more time, but only if it is formatted correctly and opens with something specific. Not "I write to humbly apply..."
What to put in and what to cut
Include: The specific role and company name in paragraph one. One thing you have done that is quantifiable. Why this company, not why you want an internship in general. Your CGPA if it meets their threshold. A direct closing with your contact details.
Cut immediately: "I wish to humbly submit my application." "I am a highly motivated student." Any sentence that could apply to any company at any time. Your secondary school results (unless PwC or KPMG specifically asks). Paragraphs longer than four lines.
Internship cover letter template
Always address the letter to the company and role you are applying for. A cover letter that says "Dear Sir/Madam, I wish to apply for a position in your prestigious organization" tells a recruiter they are one of fifty companies you mass-emailed. It goes straight to the bin. {alertError}
ATS formatting rules for your CV
Most large companies (Shell, Chevron, KPMG, Access Bank) use Applicant Tracking Systems that scan your CV before anyone reads it. These systems reject CVs with tables, text boxes, graphics, or unusual fonts. Stick to a plain single-column format, Times New Roman or Calibri, and save as PDF. Do not put your photo on it unless the company specifically asks.
7. How to build your LinkedIn profile as a student
Your LinkedIn profile is the second thing most corporate recruiters check after your CV. Shell, Chevron, PwC, and Microsoft all run background checks that include LinkedIn. A blank or half-finished profile raises immediate red flags.
The five things that matter
1. Professional photo. A clear headshot, plain or blurred background, corporate clothing. No group photos cropped to show just your face. According to LinkedIn's own data, this single element increases profile views by 14x.
2. Your headline is not your degree title. Most students write "300L Pharmacy Student at ABUAD." That tells nobody why they should click on your profile. Try something like: "Pharmacy Undergraduate | Google-Certified Data Analyst | SIWES Applicant 2026". It tells recruiters what you can do, not just where you study.
3. About section. Three short paragraphs. What you study and what you want to do. One specific thing you have done that proves it. What you are actively looking for. Keep it under 200 words. Write in first person.
4. Experience section. Include every role with a real output. "Intern, XYZ Organization (2025)" with no description is useless. Write two bullet points that start with action verbs: "Processed 40+ patient medication orders daily using dispensary management software" tells a story. "Helped pharmacists" tells nothing.
5. Skills and certifications. Add your top five technical and five soft skills. Then add every certification you have earned (Google, KPMG Forage, Coursera). LinkedIn displays these on your profile and recruiters can search for them. A KPMG virtual experience certificate on LinkedIn is worth mentioning on a real KPMG application.
One thing you can do right now: Update your LinkedIn headline. It takes three minutes and immediately makes you more visible in recruiter searches. You do not need a perfect profile. You just need a better one than the other applicants. {alertSuccess}
Connect with purpose
Send connection requests to ABUAD alumni working at your target companies. Personalize every request with one sentence explaining why you want to connect. People who went to the same university are far more likely to accept and respond than a cold message from a stranger. A lot of internship opportunities in Nigeria get shared informally within these networks before they ever appear on official portals.
8. Remote internship platforms for Nigerian students
Transport costs in Lagos and Abuja alone can eat through a ₦40,000 stipend. Remote placements eliminate that problem entirely. These four platforms are worth your time:
- Afriment: Plugs students directly into actual company workflows with real deliverables and deadlines. This is not simulated work. It is the closest you will get to a real job without leaving your room.
- Forage (forage.com): Free virtual experience programs built by PwC, KPMG, BCG, Goldman Sachs, and others. You get a verifiable certificate at the end that you can reference in a real application to that company. ATS systems recognize these.
- Virtual Internships (virtualinternships.com): Partners with 13,000+ companies globally. Includes career coaching alongside the placement. Nigerian students are eligible regardless of location.
- Stutern (stutern.com): Nigerian platform connecting students with entry level and internship opportunities within the country. Good starting point if you have no prior corporate experience.
Coursera and edX have also partnered with Google, IBM, and Meta to offer micro-internships alongside their courses. Financial aid is available to Nigerian students on both platforms. Apply for it before you pay anything.
9. The 10 skills employers actually want in 2026
Nigerian employers have shifted from purely asking about your CGPA to asking what you can actually do on day one. These ten came up most consistently across the company research for this guide:
- Python or JavaScript: Software development is still the most sought-after skill. You do not need to be a full stack engineer. Basic Python for data manipulation puts you ahead in banking, consulting, and oil and gas analytics.
- Data analytics (Excel + SQL): Every corporate department uses data. From supply chain at Nestle to treasury at GTBank. Excel proficiency is baseline. SQL is what separates you from the crowd.
- AI tool literacy: Employers in 2026 expect interns to use ChatGPT, Copilot, or similar tools to speed up their workflows. Not knowing how to use them is a disqualifier at most forward-thinking firms now.
- Cybersecurity fundamentals: With Nigerian fintech transactions growing, basic cybersecurity knowledge is expected even in non-technical roles.
- Digital marketing and SEO: Every business needs this. If you can show campaign management or content analytics experience, you are hireable across sectors.
- Cloud computing (AWS / Azure / GCP): Expected for tech track internships. Basic cloud literacy is now standard, not a premium skill.
- UI/UX design: Huge demand in fintech right now. Figma proficiency plus a portfolio of two or three designed screens is enough to get you through the door at Flutterwave or Paystack.
- Project management (Jira / Asana / Trello): Corporate environments expect interns to manage their own tasks without constant oversight. Knowing these tools signals that you can.
- Financial analysis and modeling: For banking and consulting tracks. IFRS basics plus advanced Excel financial modeling is the minimum at PwC and Access Bank.
- Written and verbal communication: Still the skill most Nigerian graduates lack at a professional level. The ability to write a clear, structured email gets noticed immediately.
You do not need all ten. Pick two or three that match your target sector and build them deliberately before your application window opens. Free platforms to build them are in the next section.
10. Free certifications to get before you apply
These are all free, globally recognized, and verifiable by employers. Add every one you complete to your LinkedIn profile and your CV.
- Google Career Certificates: Data Analytics, IT Support, UX Design, Digital Marketing, Project Management. Each takes 3 to 6 months at your own pace. The Data Analytics certificate alone opens doors at banks, consulting firms, and FMCG companies.
- HP LIFE: 30+ free courses on business skills, digital marketing, and financial literacy. Short and digestible. Certificates are downloadable and you can share them directly to LinkedIn.
- KPMG Forage Virtual Experience: Complete the free KPMG undergraduate program on Forage before applying to KPMG Nigeria. Their recruiters recognize it. When they ask "what do you know about our work?" in the interview, you already have a real answer.
- IMF Online Learning (imf.org/elearning): Free macroeconomics, public financial management, and fiscal policy courses. Good if you are targeting the CBN, economic research, or NGO placements.
- UN E-Learning (un.org/elearning): Free certificates in human rights, climate change, and humanitarian law. Aimed at students applying to IOM, UNDP, or other international agencies.
Use the Pomodoro Timer to build a structured daily study habit for these courses alongside your coursework. Even 45 minutes a day adds up to a Google certificate within three months.
Frequently asked questions
What CGPA do I need for a Shell or Chevron internship in Nigeria?
Both Shell Nigeria and Chevron Nigeria have a hard minimum of 3.5 on a 5.0 scale. This is applied by an automated system before a human sees your application. A 3.49 gets filtered out at the same stage as a 2.0. There is no way around it. Use the CGPA Calculator to confirm where you stand before applying.
Note: Chevron's application window is short — it opens around May and closes in early June. If you missed it this year, the direct application link on their careers page will be dead until the next cycle. After applying, check your status on the application portal itself rather than waiting for an email; rejections often arrive weeks late or not at all.
What is the ITF SIWES stipend in 2026?
The baseline ITF allowance is about ₦15,000 for the full six month program. That works out to roughly ₦2,500 a month. This is separate from the company stipend your host pays. In practice, your real monthly income comes from the company and ranges from ₦40,000 to ₦200,000+ depending on the sector.
How do I write a SIWES application letter?
Address it directly to the company (not "Dear Sir/Madam"), name the specific role you are applying for, include your CGPA if it meets their threshold, mention one concrete achievement or skill relevant to their work, and state your available start date. Keep it under one page. There is a full template in Section 6 above.
Can I do my SIWES placement in Lagos or Abuja if my school is in Ado-Ekiti?
Yes, but you need a geographical exemption from your institution's SIWES Directorate. Bring your official offer letter from the company when requesting it. A verbal offer does not count. Some departments also have catchment area rules, so check with your SIWES coordinator before accepting a distant placement.
Does GTBank accept SIWES students?
Yes. GTBank runs a formal Undergraduate/SIWES Internship Programme with a minimum CGPA of 2.5 on a 5.0 scale, which is the lowest of the major banks. You do need two corporate guarantors who work at reputable registered companies (not relatives), plus a birth certificate from the National Population Commission. Apply through gtbank.com/about/careers/career-opportunities/internship-programmes.
What is Forage and is it worth doing?
Forage is a free online platform that hosts virtual work experience programs built by companies like KPMG, PwC, BCG, and Goldman Sachs. You get a verifiable certificate at the end. It is worth doing. KPMG and PwC recruiters in Nigeria recognize Forage completions, and it gives you a ready answer for the "what do you know about our firm?" interview question. It costs nothing and takes a few days.
What to do next
If you are in 200 or 300 level, the single most important thing you can do right now is protect your CGPA. Shell, Chevron, KPMG, PwC, and MTN all have a hard 3.5 cutoff. Every grade between now and your final year either puts you in or locks you out. Use the CGPA Calculator to see where you stand and what your remaining courses can move.
If you are already in your SIWES year, your priority today is getting your Placement Letter from your SIWES coordinator and applying before the October through December window closes. Everything you need is in this guide: your documents checklist, cover letter template, LinkedIn setup, and target companies.
And if you are thinking beyond SIWES toward a Masters degree or scholarship after graduation, the Study Abroad After ABUAD guide covers how your internship record and CGPA feed directly into Chevening and PTDF applications.
Once you graduate, national service comes next. Our step-by-step NYSC registration guide covers the portal, requirements, senate list and call-up letter, and the same SIWES experience you build now becomes real work experience on your CV during service.
Written by the Everything ABUAD Team
CGPA requirements and portal links verified from official company careers pages: shell.com.ng, gtbank.com, apps.ng.kpmg.com, careers.accessbankplc.com, siwes.itf.gov.ng. Cross-referenced with 2026 ITF stipend data. June 2026.
Drop a comment 👇 Which company are you targeting for SIWES, and what is your current CGPA? Drop it in the comments and we will tell you exactly which companies you qualify for right now.
Chevron internship programmes are very hard to get and sometimes you have to use connections. The application portal opens three times yearly I think. The summer application this year opened during may and closed first week of june. You need to write an aptitude test and if you pass the aptitude test you will be contacted if you didn't they might send you a rejection letter after weeks of silence its better to be checking your application status on your application portal to clear your mind. The aptitude test is not your regular Nigerian education. The internship is usually opened in their Warri and Lagos branches. The link they posted here isn't the application link the application link is down. So if you're planning to do your IT there I would advice you to apply next year when the application link is opened again if you are interning in the summer and prepare yourself ahead of the aptitude test ~ from someone whose parents work thereand applied for an internship there this summer
ReplyDeleteThank you for this, you're right. The application window closed in early June and the direct link went down with it. We've updated the post to point to Chevron's main careers portal and added your notes about the aptitude test and the May to June window. Really appreciate the firsthand insight.
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