HNG Internship: A Guide to Success from Expert Mentors

HNG Mentor's Advice .25TH AUGUST 2025

HNG Internship: A Guide to Success from Expert Mentors

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What does it take to succeed in HNG Internship? The answer lies in the wisdom of our mentors, who are a major key to succeeding in your journey. These experienced professionals have helped countless aspiring tech stars on their journey through HNG

We're sharing their best advice for thriving in the HNG ecosystem. These insights will give you a clear path to success, whether you're interested in product management, design, development, or any tech track.

Obiekwe Naza

Program Coordinator

"You can do all things if you believe."Naza's role as Program Coordinator gives her unique insight into intern psychology and performance patterns. Her simple yet powerful message addresses the most common barrier to success: self-doubt. Through coordinating hundreds of interns across multiple cohorts, she's witnessed remarkable transformations when individuals shift from "I can't do this" to "I will figure this out." This mindset change is often the difference between those who complete the program successfully and those who don't. Belief in one's ability to learn and adapt is fundamental to tackling complex projects, collaborating effectively with teams, and persisting through the inevitable challenges that come with intensive skill development in a competitive environment.

Michael Abu

Product Design, Sales & Growth Marketing, Video Editing Mentor

"This experience will test you in ways that matter. Some days will feel overwhelming, but every challenge is a chance to grow. Take it one day at a time, stay open to learning, lean on your team, and keep moving, even when it's hard. Growth lives just beyond the struggle."Michael's comprehensive advice comes from his multifaceted role spanning design, marketing, and operations. His message acknowledges the emotional reality of intensive learning while providing practical strategies for perseverance. By emphasizing daily progress, collaborative learning, and viewing challenges as growth opportunities, he guides interns through the psychological aspects of skill development that often determine long-term success.

Oyebode Rejoice (Riri)

Head of Products

"Every 'small task' teaches a big skill if you're paying attention."Rejoice emphasizes the importance of mindful engagement with every assignment, no matter how trivial it may seem. In her experience leading product teams, she's observed that interns who approach minor tasks with curiosity and attention to detail develop stronger foundational skills than those who rush through assignments. Each small task is carefully designed to build specific competencies - from attention to detail and time management to problem-solving and communication. By treating every assignment as a learning opportunity, interns develop the comprehensive skill set needed for senior roles in product management and sales, where success depends on mastering both big-picture strategy and execution details.

Folajomi Bello

Lead Mentor - Product Design

"Don't rush the process; clarity comes from iteration."Folajomi's advice addresses a common pitfall among eager interns: the desire to reach solutions quickly. Her experience has shown that the best design solutions emerge through multiple iterations and refinements. This patience with the creative process, combined with systematic iteration, develops the design thinking skills that distinguish exceptional designers from those who merely execute tasks.

Aniyikaye Alabi

Backend

"You will fail if you worry about tomorrow, worry about your current stage first and change your life one day at a time."Aniyikaye's backend development perspective emphasizes present-focused execution over future anxiety. His advice reflects the systematic nature of programming, where complex systems are built through incremental progress. By concentrating on current challenges rather than overwhelming future possibilities, interns develop the focused problem-solving approach essential for successful software development careers.

Chinedu Okeke

Lead Mentor - Product Design

"It's a fast world over here, the strong survive and thrive, the weak learn something to hold on to but at every point in the journey, you learn something new." Chinedu's perspective reflects the competitive nature of the design industry and the HNG program's role in preparing interns for this reality. His message emphasizes that success requires strength, adaptability, and continuous learning. The program serves as a microcosm of the professional world, where others will gain valuable lessons that serve as stepping stones for future opportunities.

Owai Owai

Design Mentor

"Be prepared, be bold, and be consistent. It will be challenging, but immensely rewarding."Owai's three-pillar approach to HNG success focuses on preparation, courage, and persistence. His experience in both product and interaction design has shown him that successful interns come ready to learn, aren't afraid to take creative risks, and maintain their effort throughout the program's duration. The combination of these qualities transforms challenging experiences into rewarding growth opportunities that define successful design careers.

Samuel Ogboye

Backend and Frontend Mentor

"You are going to get many reasons to quit, keep moving. Your future self will appreciate you."Samuel's full-stack development background gives him insight into the comprehensive challenges interns face across different technical domains. His advice acknowledges the reality of discouragement while providing a powerful motivational framework: long-term gratitude from your future self. This perspective helps interns push through immediate discomfort by focusing on the lasting benefits of their current efforts.

Noble Ugorji

UI/UX & Video Editing Mentor

"An adventure awaits you. There will be tears, love and laughter but most importantly, GROWTH so here we go."Noble's enthusiastic approach frames the HNG experience as an adventure filled with emotional highs and lows. His unique title as 'Vibe Engineer' reflects his understanding that maintaining positive energy and team dynamics is crucial for learning environments. By preparing interns for the full spectrum of emotions they'll experience, he helps them embrace both struggles and victories as essential parts of their growth journey.

Ezekiel Iraoya

Video Editing, Sales and Growth Marketing Mentor

"It's going to be challenging, and that's exactly how it should be. If it were easy, everyone would do it and it wouldn't be worth much. Choosing to do it and striving to excel nonetheless is the first step towards becoming world class."Ezekiel's founder perspective emphasizes that difficulty is a feature, not a bug, of valuable learning experiences. His message reframes challenges as indicators of worth and exclusivity. By choosing to persist through difficulties and aiming for excellence rather than mere completion, interns position themselves among the elite professionals who can handle complex, high-stakes projects.

The Collective Wisdom: Your Roadmap to Success

These distinguished mentors represent the full spectrum of the HNG experience, bringing expertise from product management, design, development, marketing, and entrepreneurship. Their collective wisdom reflects thousands of hours spent guiding interns through transformative learning experiences across multiple disciplines and career paths.

The common threads in their advice reveal the fundamental principles of success in the HNG program: embrace challenges as growth opportunities, maintain consistency and focus, approach each task with curiosity and attention to detail, and develop both technical skills and personal resilience. Whether you're pursuing product design, backend development, marketing, or any other track, these mentors' insights provide a comprehensive framework for navigating your journey.

The HNG Internship program's reputation for producing industry-ready professionals stems not just from its rigorous curriculum, but from the dedicated mentorship that helps interns develop both technical competencies and professional mindsets. Each mentor's unique perspective addresses different aspects of the learning journey - from managing pressure and maintaining motivation to building confidence and developing world-class skills.

As you progress through your HNG journey, remember that these mentors were once beginners too. Their success came not from avoiding challenges, but from approaching them with the right mindset, strategies, and support systems. Apply their collective wisdom, stay committed to your growth, and trust in the process that has successfully launched countless tech careers across Africa and beyond.

The investment you make in yourself during these intensive weeks will compound throughout your career. Embrace the adventure, learn from every experience, and prepare to join the ranks of HNG alumni who are now shaping the future of technology as founders, leaders, and innovators in their respective fields.