Igbo Apprenticeship and the Sustenance of Nigerian Economy

Abstract

The Igbos are well-known for their industriousness and doggedness when it comes to fendingfor their livelihood. The Igbo apprentice system tends to emphasis this assertion, seen as anextension of the entrepreneurial spirit of the Igbos, where an induction strategy is utilized toinduct mostly young Igbos, though without a clear cut age limit or bracket, intoentrepreneurial ventures by established Igbo entrepreneurs who reside in urban areas and arelocally referred to as “Oga†(Master), while the apprentice is called “Nwa odibo†or “Nwangaâ€(House/Trade Boy). This paper tries to lend a voice to the importance of the Igbotraditional apprenticeship scheme, which seems presently to have been relegated to thebackward. It will among other things consider the challenges and prospects of theentrepreneurial apprentice scheme, which it argues could be a panacea to the lingeringunemployment and economic quagmire particularly in Igbo land and generally in Nigeria.Oral interviews, personal visits, observations and relevant literature were used as sources ofdata collection. The method adopted was historical narrative, with thematic and analyticapproach. The paper suggests on how to resuscitate the cultural apprenticeship scheme thatcarved an economic niche for the Igbo. It concludes with recommendations on vitalmodifications that could help the scheme to remove noted bottlenecks on the part of thementor and mentee, with the call on government to step in to moderate the scheme.