Oluwadamilare Ayilara, a master’s student in business at SETU, has secured a place on a prestigious internship programme, marking a significant milestone in her academic and professional journey.
Currently pursuing a Master of Business in Finance and Business Analytics at SETU, Oluwadamilare has been selected for the Irish Government Economic and Evaluation Service (IGEES) Internship Programme 2026, one of Ireland's leading analytics and policy development initiatives.
Before commencing her postgraduate studies, Oluwadamilare worked as an analyst in PwC’s Consulting, Risk & Services division, where she gained experience in financial risk analysis, advisory projects, and complex problem-solving. This experience strengthened her interest in data-driven decision-making and motivated her to specialise in finance and analytics.
Choosing a path in finance and data analytics
Oluwadamilare was drawn to SETU for its strong practical focus and its integration of finance with modern analytics tools.
“I chose Master of Business in Finance and Business Analytics because it brings together two areas, I am deeply passionate about: finance and data analytics. My interest in understanding how economic decisions shape real outcomes, combined with a growing fascination with data-driven problem-solving, made this course the perfect fit.”
Oluwadamilare Ayilara SETU Student
Leadership and learning beyond the classroom
Throughout her studies, she has valued the applied nature of the programme, where classroom learning is closely aligned with real business scenarios. Working with business intelligence tools and financial datasets has strengthened her technical and analytical skills.
Oluwadamilare also highlights the supportive academic environment at SETU, where lecturers bring industry experience into teaching and encourage critical thinking and clear communication.
“Lecturers were approachable, industry-informed, and committed to student development. The course strengthened my ability to interpret data, present insights clearly, and think critically about financial and economic issues.”
Oluwadamilare Ayilara SETU Student
Developing impact through practice and responsibility
Alongside her studies, she served as class representative, developing leadership, communication, and teamwork skills while contributing to the wider student community.
Oluwadamilare also completed a business intelligence project in which she developed a professional dashboard for an airline company, integrating financial analysis, data visualisation, and strategic insights.
She said, “This project allowed me to integrate analytics, financial insights, and strategic recommendations in a practical, industry-focused way.”
A future in data-driven policy and strategy
Looking ahead, Oluwadamilare aims to build a career applying finance and analytics to real-world challenges in policy, strategy, and economic decision-making. The IGEES opportunity has further strengthened her interest in public-sector analytics and evidence-based policy development.
