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Become your school ambassador

Get structured career mentorship
from your alumni for FREE

BuildGems connects students from diverse tertiary institutions with successful alumni in top organizations, helping them transition into real career opportunities.

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Students
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Mentors
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Universities

How it works

Step 01

Choose a mentor

Browse through the list of mentors and select one that best fits your career growth and aspiration per time.

Step 02

Take assessment

Answer sets of questions to help us best understand where you are currently and what you're trying to achieve.

Step 03

Join cohort

You'll be paired with a mentor for a 3-6 month fully virtual program offering career growth development.

The Challenge

A quantitative look at the crisis we are facing head-on

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Students are in public institutions

Majority of the youth workforce is trained in environments with minimal modern career infrastructure in Nigeria.

Critical gap

In career mentorship

Access to career mentorship for undergraduates and recent graduates in Nigeria is currently low, roughly 80% or more of young professionals and students lack access to structured, professional mentorship.

0%+

Graduates are without networks

Networking phenomenon is significant in Nigeria's job market, where up to 85% of jobs are reportedly filled through referrals and networking.

We’re on a mission

Our product philosophy

We connect driven undergraduates and successful alumni working in top organizations. This provides undergraduates with guidance, insight, and support from alumni who have walked similar paths and achieved remarkable success. By joining a cohort of peers with similar career interests, students gain access to group mentorship that fosters collaboration, shared learning, and growth.

Mentors, many of whom are industry leaders and experts, offer invaluable real-world insights, from navigating career challenges to building essential skills. It's a meaningful way to give back, inspire future leaders, and stay connected to their alma mater.

Together, let’s build the next generation!

build Gems Philosophy

From potential to opportunity

Bridge the gap between where you are today and the professional mastery you're destined for. BuildGems isn't just a platform; it's your career evolution.

BEFORE BUILDGEMS

  • Limited career exposure

    Navigating in the dark without visibility into high-impact roles.

  • No professional network

    Isolated from the circles that matter in your chosen industry.

  • Low job readiness

    A skills gap that feels like a chasm between you and hiring teams.

  • Uncertain career path

    Wandering through roles without a clear north star or strategy.

AFTER BUILDGEMS

  • Industry mentorship

    Direct 1:1 guidance from senior leaders currently in the field.

  • Direct access to professionals

    Join an elite ecosystem of innovators and decision-makers.

  • Real projects and portfolios

    Build products that solve actual industry problems, not mockups.

  • Internships and job opportunities

    Fast-track your application into partner pipelines.

Real stories. Real impact

See how Buildgems is helping mentees creating a future for themselves with life changing impacts

The mentor for my cohort has over this short period of time debunked the ambiguity in understanding corporate communications. Although we are at its basic stages, I'm pretty convinced I have a good head start to forging an amazing career, all thanks to her insight and commitment to teach.

Omenka PRECIOUS (University of Lagos)

Communications Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

I was able to learn how to use the 4Ps of marketing to actually review a product with I haven't done before. It's actually a practical that I haven't done before. I have only theoretically learnt that from school but through the mentorship training, I was able to learn to how apply it practically and I know I will keep learning more as the days go by.

Badru Dorcas (Federal University Oye Ekiti)

Marketing Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

My mentor Timi has ensured actions. He aided me in setting those goals and completed, he given me clarity to knowing the things I need to set aside something I really needed, the

AKINBAYO CLINTON (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Tabs

TIMI OMOYA

Mentor

The mentor for my cohort has over this short period of time debunked the ambiguity in understanding corporate communications. Although we are at its basic stages, I'm pretty convinced I have a good head start to forging an amazing career, all thanks to her insight and commitment to teach.

Omenka PRECIOUS (University of Lagos)

Communications Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

I was able to learn how to use the 4Ps of marketing to actually review a product with I haven't done before. It's actually a practical that I haven't done before. I have only theoretically learnt that from school but through the mentorship training, I was able to learn to how apply it practically and I know I will keep learning more as the days go by.

Badru Dorcas (Federal University Oye Ekiti)

Marketing Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

My mentor Timi has ensured actions. He aided me in setting those goals and completed, he given me clarity to knowing the things I need to set aside something I really needed, the

AKINBAYO CLINTON (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Tabs

TIMI OMOYA

Mentor

The mentor for my cohort has over this short period of time debunked the ambiguity in understanding corporate communications. Although we are at its basic stages, I'm pretty convinced I have a good head start to forging an amazing career, all thanks to her insight and commitment to teach.

Omenka PRECIOUS (University of Lagos)

Communications Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

I was able to learn how to use the 4Ps of marketing to actually review a product with I haven't done before. It's actually a practical that I haven't done before. I have only theoretically learnt that from school but through the mentorship training, I was able to learn to how apply it practically and I know I will keep learning more as the days go by.

Badru Dorcas (Federal University Oye Ekiti)

Marketing Professional

TOBI RASAQ ALAKA

Mentor

My mentor Timi has ensured actions. He aided me in setting those goals and completed, he given me clarity to knowing the things I need to set aside something I really needed, the

AKINBAYO CLINTON (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Tabs

TIMI OMOYA

Mentor

My mentor, Mr Nzube, is guiding me through a systematic framework to navigate my career. This approach has been incredibly helpful, as we're not just discussing advice – we're critically evaluating what works for me and exploring potential interests together. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity and experience.

Mulumba Teniola (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Risevest

NZUBE NWAOKORO

Mentor

He’s great at meeting each mentee where they’re at. I also love how he emphasizes the UX side of product design. It’s easy to get caught up in just visuals, but he keeps that balance in check.

Lateefat Salami (University of IBADAN)

Product Designer

THEOPHILUS FREDRICK

Mentor

My mentor is first of all very approachable and easily accessible which is very rare with most mentors. Even though he is extremely occupied,he creates time to attend to us. He teaches us the requisite details and rudiments of our tech stack and makes us think like senior engineers.

Praise precious (University of IBADAN)

Back-end engineer @ Rufus Elemo

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

My mentor, Mr Nzube, is guiding me through a systematic framework to navigate my career. This approach has been incredibly helpful, as we're not just discussing advice – we're critically evaluating what works for me and exploring potential interests together. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity and experience.

Mulumba Teniola (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Risevest

NZUBE NWAOKORO

Mentor

He’s great at meeting each mentee where they’re at. I also love how he emphasizes the UX side of product design. It’s easy to get caught up in just visuals, but he keeps that balance in check.

Lateefat Salami (University of IBADAN)

Product Designer

THEOPHILUS FREDRICK

Mentor

My mentor is first of all very approachable and easily accessible which is very rare with most mentors. Even though he is extremely occupied,he creates time to attend to us. He teaches us the requisite details and rudiments of our tech stack and makes us think like senior engineers.

Praise precious (University of IBADAN)

Back-end engineer @ Rufus Elemo

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

My mentor, Mr Nzube, is guiding me through a systematic framework to navigate my career. This approach has been incredibly helpful, as we're not just discussing advice – we're critically evaluating what works for me and exploring potential interests together. I'm truly grateful for this opportunity and experience.

Mulumba Teniola (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer @ Risevest

NZUBE NWAOKORO

Mentor

He’s great at meeting each mentee where they’re at. I also love how he emphasizes the UX side of product design. It’s easy to get caught up in just visuals, but he keeps that balance in check.

Lateefat Salami (University of IBADAN)

Product Designer

THEOPHILUS FREDRICK

Mentor

My mentor is first of all very approachable and easily accessible which is very rare with most mentors. Even though he is extremely occupied,he creates time to attend to us. He teaches us the requisite details and rudiments of our tech stack and makes us think like senior engineers.

Praise precious (University of IBADAN)

Back-end engineer @ Rufus Elemo

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

Hope is a very open and patient person. She takes time to answer questions without you feeling like you are asking a silly question. She’s helps with useful information that I need to navigate my career in general, especially interviews in big tech.

Mosimi Akinlabi (University of Lagos)

Front-end engineer

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

My mentor has been incredibly amazing. With his help, I have been able to gain clarity on how to navigate the pool of resources available to me to reach my intended end goal. Also, I have been exposed to extra resources that have the potential to accelerate my software engineering journey. Thanks, Mr. Chris.

Jacob Precious (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer

Chris adeneye

Mentor

Mr Fumnanya has been really helpful. He takes time to breakdown the different aspects in ensuring product success. He engages us during sessions, gives us time to brainstorm and the assignments have challenged us to think outside of the box.

Wole-Jimoh teniola (University of Lagos)

Product manager

Nanya Okeleke-kooper

Mentor

Hope is a very open and patient person. She takes time to answer questions without you feeling like you are asking a silly question. She’s helps with useful information that I need to navigate my career in general, especially interviews in big tech.

Mosimi Akinlabi (University of Lagos)

Front-end engineer

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

My mentor has been incredibly amazing. With his help, I have been able to gain clarity on how to navigate the pool of resources available to me to reach my intended end goal. Also, I have been exposed to extra resources that have the potential to accelerate my software engineering journey. Thanks, Mr. Chris.

Jacob Precious (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer

Chris adeneye

Mentor

Mr Fumnanya has been really helpful. He takes time to breakdown the different aspects in ensuring product success. He engages us during sessions, gives us time to brainstorm and the assignments have challenged us to think outside of the box.

Wole-Jimoh teniola (University of Lagos)

Product manager

Nanya Okeleke-kooper

Mentor

Hope is a very open and patient person. She takes time to answer questions without you feeling like you are asking a silly question. She’s helps with useful information that I need to navigate my career in general, especially interviews in big tech.

Mosimi Akinlabi (University of Lagos)

Front-end engineer

Olufemi Obafunmiso

Mentor

My mentor has been incredibly amazing. With his help, I have been able to gain clarity on how to navigate the pool of resources available to me to reach my intended end goal. Also, I have been exposed to extra resources that have the potential to accelerate my software engineering journey. Thanks, Mr. Chris.

Jacob Precious (University of Lagos)

Back-end engineer

Chris adeneye

Mentor

Mr Fumnanya has been really helpful. He takes time to breakdown the different aspects in ensuring product success. He engages us during sessions, gives us time to brainstorm and the assignments have challenged us to think outside of the box.

Wole-Jimoh teniola (University of Lagos)

Product manager

Nanya Okeleke-kooper

Mentor

Where our mentees are working

Since August 2024, BuildGems has helped mentees transition from mentorship to meaningful careers across a growing number of organizations.

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Frequently asked questions
Everything you need to know about BuildGems

Join the growing list of organization partnering with us

Partner with us to expand access to mentorship, career development, and opportunities for students across Nigerian tertiary institutions.

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