The Igbo apprenticeship system is an entrepreneurial model where an entrepreneur takes under tutelage an apprentice, and teaches him or her the rudiments of a particular trade over an agreed period. On completion, the entrepreneur known as Oga (Big Boss), gives the apprentice seed capital and other kinds of support including mentorship. Under the arrangement, the entrepreneur is regarded as Oga (Big Boss), while the apprentice is called Boi-Boi or Nwa Boi).

There is no recorded history of how long Ndigbo have been practicing the Igbo apprenticeship scheme. What is obvious is that it is majorly indigenous to Ndigbo and has over time become part of their business culture and tradition. The scheme falls within the ‘self -help’ ideology and ‘in-group’ philosophy which found wider acceptance amongst Ndigbo after the Nigeria/Biafra civil war when Ndigbo, stripped of their savings and money in Nigerian banks by the federal government, were given only 20 pounds in exchange for whatever amount they may have deposited in the bank before the civil war. As the Igbo proverb goes, ‘Onye ajulu aju adiro aju onwe ya’, meaning, if people reject and deny you, you should not deny and reject yourself’. Post – civil war, Ndigbo set about rebuilding their businesses and communities, carrying friends, relatives and associates along in the process. Individuals, community age grade groups, town unions, Otu Iyom, ndi Nze na Ozo and other traditional Igbo societies rallied round in this regard. This determination to succeed with others also finds expression in the Igbo mantra of ‘Egbe bere ugo bere’, meaning, Live and let live, ‘Onye aghana nwanne ya’, meaning, leave no one behind along the journey of economic success or along the journey of life. This meant that people that could already stand on their feet business-wise after the war had to ‘recruit’ apprentices to ‘serve’ them or to work with them in their businesses and trade, after which the apprentices (Boi-Bois) are ‘settled’ (Idu uno) by their ‘Ogas’ or ‘masters’ to start their own businesses. That way, the wheel of economic progress and development continued to grind in the South-East region and in other places where Ndigbo sojourn.

The Igbo apprenticeship scheme has helped in improving the economic fortunes of states and countries where Ndigbo sojourn. Take Lagos state for example, if you visit the big markets with large populations of Igbo traders, for example, Idumota, ASPANDA, Ladipo, Trade Fair, Orile and such other large markets. You will observe Ndigbo working hard in their various shops. You will also observe the ‘Ogas’ and their ‘Boi-Bois’ (apprentices). Those ‘Boi-Bois’ today will become the ‘Ogas’ of tomorrow. By the time the apprentices complete their apprenticeship, they will be ‘settled’, given seed capital by their ‘Ogas’ to start their own businesses. In addition to the seed capital, the Ogas also help pay for one year shop rental for the freed Boi-Boi who is also given some goods on credit to start with. The cycle continues because when the ‘Boi-Bois’ start their own business, they will in-turn take under their wings another set of ‘Boi-Bois’. They will build factories, rent or buy lands and properties, invest in the towns and states where they trade, and also at home as Ndigbo believe in the ‘Aku luo uno‘ philosophy (taking some percentage of their wealth and investing same at home in the South-East region). That’s how Ndigbo, as itinerant tribe, collectively contribute to the socio-economic development or industrialisation of the towns, states and countries where they reside. This counters the false narrative advanced by some people, to create hatred against Ndigbo.

Evidence abounds to show that Ndigbo contribute to the socio-economic development of the towns and states where they reside in outside Igbo land. A typical example of the success of the Igbo apprenticeship scheme, and how Ndigbo contribute to the socio-economic development of their host state is the success story of Dr. Cosmas Maduka, Chairman of Coscharis Group. Dr. Maduka has on several occasions shared his personal apprenticeship scheme story, how he slept in the shop of his ‘Oga’ and so on. Today, the Coscharis example remains one of the shining examples of the success stories of Igbo apprenticeship scheme. Another good example is that of Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of Innoson Group, makers of Innoson and IVM range of vehicles. Dr. Chukwuma served as ‘Boi-Boi’ under his ‘Oga’, Chief Rommy Ezeonwuka, Chairman of Rojenny Tourist Village.

Igbo Apprenticeship Today

Several people have posited that the time-tested Igbo apprenticeship scheme is no longer what it used to be and should be stopped. Some label it as modern day slavery and abuse of human rights. Because of the informal nature of the Master and ‘Boi-Boi’ relationship, certain abuses have been noted. There have been reported cases of apprentices overstaying the agreed period, or the ‘Oga’ refusing to settle the ‘Boi-Boi’ as agreed. The ‘Ogas’ have been noted to advance several reasons for reneging from the agreement. Many accuse the ‘Boi-Bois’ of stealing, occultic practices, disrespectful behaviours etc. These observed occurrences in the ‘Oga’ and ‘Boi-Boi’ relationship give the Igbo apprenticeship scheme a bad name.

Despite the noted challenges, the Igbo apprenticeship scheme should not be stopped, rather, the Igbo apprenticeship scheme should be repositioned or re-built to help Nigeria as it battles various issues including unemployment, occultism, kidnapping, cultism, banditry, ethnic agitations  and other social vices.

Re-Building The Igbo Apprenticeship System

There is a saying that the idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Adopting the Igbo apprenticeship scheme by both the federal, states and local governments will help provide economic opportunities for young men and women in Nigerian communities who don’t have jobs, and have resorted to other self-help means to achieve financial freedom. It has been noted that youth unemployment has given rise to youth restiveness especially in the South-East region of Nigeria. Many unemployed youths have become willing tools in the hands of some who under the pretext of freedom fighting and Biafra agitation have converted the youths to carrying out illegal acts such as kidnapping, armed robbery, idle worshipping and other vices.

As part of the repositioning or re-building of the Igbo apprenticeship scheme, local higher institutions should be partnered to validate the apprenticeship scheme as is done in some parts of Europe. Germany has a successful ausbildung (apprenticeship) system that we can study and borrow from. In the course of their apprenticeship, the ‘Boi-Bois’ could be awarded credit hours in academic disciples such as marketing, business management, customer service, ICT, sales, leadership, accounting and so on. This is for trade apprentices. Similar credit hours could be awarded to those learning a skill such as mechanical, technical or other skills. This is because on a daily basis in the shops of their ‘Ogas’, the apprentices are learning the practical aspects of these academic disciplines. If this is implemented, by the time the apprentices complete their apprenticeship, they will receive some certification, maybe a diploma. This will greatly improve the self-esteem of the apprentices, encourage and motivate them further along their entrepreneurial journey, as against the situation where many of them go through life being referred to as illiterates. This is despite the life and practical lessons they have learnt as apprentices for several years.

Federal, states and local governments could collaborate and set up a national agency that will regulate apprenticeship schemes. The agency will be responsible for a national database, and an apprenticeship exchange where aspiring ‘Boi-Bois’ will register their interest, and prospective ‘Ogas’ will register their willingness to absorb them. This will help in standardising the scheme. Guarantors will be provided by both parties. Terms and duration of the apprenticeship agreement will be clearly spelt out and signed by both parties and the guarantors. The present arrangement is mostly informal, by word-of-mouth, hence the tendency by the parties not to adhere strictly to the terms. An insurance scheme for ‘Boi-Bois’ should be introduced to enable ‘Boi-Bois’ access start-up grants should their ‘Oga’ fail to ‘settle’ them, or give them the mandatory seed capital when they complete their apprenticeship. The ‘Ogas’ will contribute towards such an insurance scheme and receive refund of the premium they have contributed if they fulfil the terms of the apprenticeship.

Conclusion

The Igbo apprenticeship scheme has helped in reducing unemployment in the South-East region as it informally provides employment to thousands of youth in the region. The government and other relevant stakeholders including political actors, chambers of commerce, town unions, higher institutions, and development partners should take more interest in the scheme with a view to adopting it, and promoting it further. This would lead to the creation of more successful entrepreneurs, whose economic activities will fast-track development not only in the region but in Nigeria.

It is interesting to observe that people are coming to the realisation that the time has come to look inwards and re-discover economic and entrepreneurship promotion models such as the Igbo apprenticeship scheme that has continued to make the Igbo economy strong, and Igbo people stronger with little or no government support. It is a fascinating model of enterprise development where an entrepreneur agrees to take under his or her tutelage potential competitors. He or she at the end of the apprenticeship also goes ahead to fund the start-up who almost immediately begins to compete with him or her within the same jurisdiction of business. Such healthy competition should be studied and promoted. Business schools around the world including Harvard University have in the past done some studies on Igbo apprenticeship. Such studies should be widely disseminated.

If implemented, the measures suggested in this essay will lead to a more successful model of Igbo apprenticeship scheme. This will further lead to human capital development and guarantee wealth creation not only in the South-East region but in Nigeria. The government, ‘Ogas”, youths and critical economic and socio-political stakeholders should re-think and adopt the repositioned and re-built Igbo apprenticeship system. The youths should learn a skill or trade under someone’s tutelage for an agreed period, and qualify to be given seed capital by the ‘Oga’ on completion. This is surely a better model than the present trend of getting involved in all kinds of ‘get rich quick’ schemes to achieve financial independence.

Reference

Iremeka J. Chijioke, The Igbo Apprenticeship Could Be Repositioned To Help Nigeria https://guardian.ng/saturday-magazine/the-igbo-apprenticeship-scheme-could-be-repositioned-to-help-nigeria/ (Accessed 05/06/23)

Guardian newspaper of Saturday, 29th January, 2022.

Dr. Uche Nworah’s career spans the academia, banking, management consulting, telecommunications and media sectors in Germany, United Kingdom and Nigeria.