Igbo Apprenticeship System: A Cradle of Socio-economic Development in Nigeria (REVISITED) (original) (raw)

THE PLACE OF NDI-IGBO IN NIGERIA’S SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The advent of European colonialism radically altered the Igbo consciousness and compelled them to draw upon opportunities of the 'new order' to meet social and economic demands. The twentieth century was a period when the Nigerian people had to come to terms with the 'new order' introduced by their forceful integration into the global capitalist system. New music had been introduced; new dance steps were required.

Igbo Apprenticeship System: A Cradle of Socio-economic Development in Nigeria

2021

This paper is an analytic research that dived into the nature and situation of Igbo apprenticeship program as a pragmatic incubator of wealth in Igbo nation. The paper stresses the fact that the Igbo nation after Nigeria-biafran civil war of 1967 was the fastest growing region in Nigeria as a result of their intense egalitarian spirit of mentorship technique. Meanwhile, the Igbo apprenticeship program has considered to be a cradle of socioeconomic development in Nigeria. The system has contributed in poverty alleviation, economic growth and development is faced with some challenges that could possibly erode the existence of this long aged economic system in Igbo nation and Nigeria at large.

The Igbo in Present Day Nigeria

The study delves into an examination of patterns and trends in Igbo society in the present day Nigeria, with some historical events as illuminating lamp. Of course, historical events effectively influenced the nature of Igbo society in the present times. Such events include the European incursion and concomitant changes in socio-political organisation, nationalist movements, naïve post-independence administration, the Nigeria-Biafra war, attempts at postwar reconstruction, fragmentation of the society, which came in form of state creation and local government reforms among others. There is the need to bring to the fore such knowledge as the lack of it would keep emerging generations bereft of ideas on how to solve similar problems when similar situation presents itself. The foregoing inspired the need for this study. The eclectic method of analysis is employed and the discourse is organised in themes to ensure articulated presentation. It is observed that the Igbo passed through a major phase that has been affecting their status in the affairs of Nigeria. That phase is the Nigeria-Biafra war. However, the war appears to have ignited the self-help attribute of the Igbo as they went on to achieve major feats both as individuals and groups.

Igba Boyi and the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme in Nigeria: Indigenous Entrepreneurship in Africa

2023

The Igbo apprentice system is an extension of their enterprising spirit where an induction strategy is utilised to induct mostly young Igbos into entrepreneurial ventures by established entrepreneurs locally referred to as Oga. This venture can be a trade, an enterprise, or a vocation, in some cases serving also as a domestic help. The Ogas are former apprentices that had served and were handed resources to begin their own enterprises. This system is informal and has unstructured training programs to learn and master skills required to embark on own enterprise. This research note documents salient points in a recently published book on the subject, highlighting some of the prospects and challenges of the indigenous entrepreneurship scheme and suggesting future research directions. The Igbo apprentice system is an extension of their enterprising spirit where an induction strategy is utilised to induct mostly young Igbos into entrepreneurial ventures by established entrepreneurs locally referred to as Oga. This venture can be a trade, an enterprise, or a vocation, in some cases serving also as a domestic help. The Ogas are former apprentices that had served and were handed resources to begin their own enterprises. This system is informal and has unstructured training programs to learn and master skills required to embark on own enterprise. The Igbo apprentice system is a rational economic decision that uses cheap labour to build up human resources, while creating the opportunity of developing self-employed individuals. The system has three main phases or stages: Talent (or Ability) Identification, Scholarship (or Knowledge training), and Graduation (or Clearance).

The Nature and Structure of the Economy of Pre-colonial Nigeria

This conversation is set to examine the nature and structure of the indigenous economies of the people of Nigeria between 1500 and 1800 AD. Great attention will be focussed on the foundation of the economy. Attention shall be given to production and distribution systems; and the usability and applicability of land, labour, and capital shall be explored. In the same vein the orientations of entrepreneurship shall be given a deserving critical treatment in this conversation.

Igbo Culture and Business Practices in South East Nigeria: A Critical Review

British Journal of marketing studies , 2024

This study examined the relationship between Igbo culture and business practices in the SouthEastern region of Nigeria. Over the years, scholars have introduced so many leadership, management and business theories to guide businesses. This study aims to examine critical Igbo cultural practices that serve same purposes as some of these business management theories in guiding business successes in the South East of Nigeria. This study also looked at how the Igbo culture and Igbo leadership influence Igbo entrepreneurial practices. It was found that so many Igbo Cultural practices such as Igbo apprenticeship system and business mentorship guide and motivate Igbo entrepreneurs to succeed in business. As a result of these values, individuals train under their master to gain general business management skills (known as Igba-Boi). In some cases, some of trainees end up pursuing other types of businesses quite different from the where they served using the same business skills in the new trades. The study recommended that Nigerian government should learn from western government in encouraging Igbo apprenticeship system that governs most successful businesses among Ndigbo and developed as an official business incubation system for the youth. The study further recommended government can support individuals who have mastered certain skills but lack capital with fund infusion.

The Igbo Entrepreneur in the Political Economy of Nigeria

African Study Monograph, 1999

Central to the capitalist orientation introduced to the Third World nations through colonialism is the role of entrepreneurs in development. This group is still perceived as inevitable if these nations are to develop. In spite of all the attempts to develop date, very little is being achieved.

CFP-Nigeria's Economic History [COMPREHENSIVE HISTORY OF THE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OF NIGERIA]

Nigeria celebrated 60 years of independence from Britain in 2020. At independence, Nigeria was said to have great potential for accelerated development: a large youthful population, flourishing agricultural sector, an equable climate, a fairly technocratic civil service, educated crop of leaders adjudged to be more sensible than other African nationalists who opted for socialism. Besides the agricultural produce, there was hint that there were mineral deposits, tin, gold, columbite, coal and limestone. Petroleum was discovered in the colonial period; not in commercial quantities, though. So the future for an independent Nigeria was seen as bright. Sixty years after independence, however, the Nigerian economy remains below its endowment profile. It cannot compare favourably with Asian countries such as Malaysia, Korea, and Japan, that were at the same or lower economic levels with the country in 1960. Nigerian products, except oil, hardly enter into world trade statistics. Why? Does Nigerian economic history matter? Has the Nigerian economy always been underperforming since pre-colonial times or does it have to do with the external factor of age-long imperialism or internal factors such as postcolonial leadership failures with manifestations in poor economic policy choices, natural resource dependence, devastating conflicts, among others? Is it a combination of some or all of these factors? What happens when a traditional society encounters “modernity”? Even within a country, what happens when the means of production changes or new inventions upturn the way of life of a people? One does not have to subscribe to the “economic determinism” school to know that the way a people organize themselves to provide for their everyday needs—production, distribution, consumption and exchange—reveals a lot about whatever else is happening to their social life as a whole. Scholars from the humanities, developmental and social sciences, among others, are hereby invited to join in this comprehensive investigation of the history of Nigeria’s economic development since the 1800s, guided by the subthemes below.

Igbo Women in the Economic History of Lagos, 1900-1990: An Exploratory Study, Nigeria

International journal of humanities & social studies, 2019

Introduction The Igbo ethnic group occupied the eastern region of Nigeria and are widely known as migrant traders, producers, and farmers. An important physical feature of their environment is the Niger River. This is because of the manner it shaped their geography, climate, and occupation. The Niger River also serves as a means of transportation, a source of water supply, and a highway of commerce and contact (Northrup, 1972: 217-236). Igboland has a tropical climate and the average annual temperature of about 80 0 F., an annual range of between 5 0 and10 0 , its rainy and dry seasons are well marked (Uchendu, 1965, 1). In politics and culture, some Igbo areas developed highly titled institutions, while others evolved secret societies but within the larger family of segmentary political system (Falola, Mahadi, Uhomoibhi, and Anyanwu, 1993, 87-88).The village-group authority was dispersed, with lineage and non-lineage institutions, hereditary and non-hereditary office-holders, as well as men and women playing official roles in government (Afigbo, 1980, 1-18). The mobility of the Igbo, according to report has been attributed to land question, lack of soil fertility, and high population density. However, records also show that the increase in migrant labour was not only due to land shortages (Olutayo, 1999: 147-174) and other corollary factors, but the theory of social stratification of the Igbo society, especially the Osu culture, and respect for wealth. Others have been explained in terms of lack of industrial complexes in the region, and the effects of the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970), to mention but a few. (Aworawo, Aluede, Agugua, 2019) My objective in this paper is to explore the role of Igbo women in the economy of Lagos. It is motivated by Judith Van Allen's assertion that, 'Igbo women haven't taken leadership roles in modern local government, nationalist movements and national government and what roles they have played have not been investigated by scholars.(Allen, 1972: 165-182) Therefore, this paper is significant because there is no existing study of this nature to the best of our knowledge. The paper demonstrates that the involvement of Igbo women in the economy of Lagos was fortuitous and has contributed to food security, urbanisation, and development. To interrogate these facts, the paper adopts a descriptive and analytical approach in analyzing and interpreting the data used in the study. Primary and secondary sources of data are not only connected but synthesised, and these include personal interviews, published works, journals, internet sources. The historiography of the Igbo indicates that a number of works exist and these include those by (