Salifu from Ghana Reflects on a Summer of Experience and Growth at Sterling Bank

My internship at Sterling Bank (Nigeria) was a meaningful and eye-opening experience that played an important role in my personal and professional growth. Sponsored by Ashinaga, this opportunity came at a time when I was eager to understand how the knowledge I am gaining academically could translate into real-world impact. The experience exceeded my expectations and helped shape my perspective on work, responsibility, and growth.

I worked on a retrieval augment generative (RAG) system which I named Incident Assistant. This system helps people find answers quickly by searching through their own documents. You upload your files, such as PDFs, Word documents, text files, and spreadsheets, and the app stores them in a searchable collection. When you type a question in plain English, the app looks through your documents and gives you an answer, and it tells you exactly which document or section that answer came from. You can chat with it like a normal conversation, and it remembers what you asked so you can ask follow-up questions.

Working under the supervision of Mr. Emmanuel Awa was one of the most valuable aspects of this internship. His guidance, patience, and willingness to share his knowledge made a lasting impression on me. He did more than just assign tasks. He took time to explain processes, correct mistakes constructively, and encourage me to improve. Through his mentorship, I learned the importance of professionalism, consistency, and taking pride in one’s work.

The internship exposed me to the realities of a professional corporate environment. At first, adjusting to the structure, pace, and expectations of the workplace was challenging, but over time, I became more confident and adaptable. Each task, no matter how small, taught me something new about responsibility, attention to detail, and the importance of teamwork. I began to understand how individual effort contributes to the success of a larger organization.

Salifu also won the Ashinaga USA African Diaspora Investment Symposium Prize in 2023

Beyond technical experience, this internship helped me grow personally. I became more confident in communicating with others, more disciplined in managing my time, and more aware of my strengths and areas for improvement. I learned how to remain calm under pressure, ask for help when needed, and approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. These lessons will stay with me long after the internship.

I am deeply grateful to Ashinaga for sponsoring this opportunity and believing in my potential. Their support made it possible for me to gain this experience, and it has motivated me to work harder toward my future goals. I am also thankful to Sterling Bank for providing a supportive learning environment where I felt valued and encouraged to grow.

In reflection, my internship at Sterling Bank was not just a requirement or work experience. It was a journey of growth, learning, and self-discovery. It strengthened my confidence, clarified my aspirations, and prepared me for the challenges of the professional world. I will always appreciate this experience and the people who made it impactful.