The Igbo apprentice system (also known as the Igbo trade apprentice system) is commonly referred to as ′Igba-Boi or Imu-Ahia or Imu-Oru′. It is an economic model practiced widely by Igbos and originated in South-Eastern Nigeria. The Igbos has been practicing this for centuries, what is today known as ‘stackholder capitalism’. It is designed to run for 8 weeks. Also, it is structured to prepare learners on the mechanics of the Igbo business worldview philosophy of entrepreneurial stakeholder capitalism where not just a few but everyone rises.
The program includes pre-recorded videos, business cases, written materials, and live sessions. A person cannot self enroll because it is only delivered to a group. Its main purposes were to spur economic growth and stability, and sustainable livelihood by financing and investing in human resources through vocational training.
The ‘Igba boi’ offers a new part for nations towards a global “onye aghara nwanne ya” (do not leave your brethren behind) under a belief system of stakeholder primacy as the world looks for how to manage the disruption in global economies as a result of technology which has increased economic inequality.
The Igbo culture entrepreneurship system can be traced back to the 15th century during the slave trade business. In 1800s about 320,000 Igbos were sold at Bonny, as well as 50,000 at Calabar and Elem Kalabari. This process of slave trade continued until the abolition of slave trade in the 1900s. These slaves were exposed to entrepreneurship by their owners where they were made ttrading commodities like; tobacco, sugar, cotton, spices etc for export to the Americans, Europeans and Asians. With these experiences, the entrepreneurship spirit of the Igbo people was kindled and it made them to venture into various forms of entrepreneurship during the pre-colonial era. The colonial era met the Igbos as the leading exporters of; craftsmen, palm oil and kernel, merchants, traders, cottage industrialists, and many other products. Till the present age, this culture of entrepreneurship has been sustained through the apprenticeship framework.
There are three(3) major types of the Igbo apprenticeship system; Igba-boi which is also known as ‘Igba Odibo’ (become an apprentice). Imu Oru also known as Imu Oruaka (learn a craft) and Imu Ahia (learn a trade). Although they are all geared towards the transfer knowledge of entrepreneurial skills, they differ in approach. In the Igba-boi/Igba Odibo an apprentice will be tutored for free for an agreed period of time (mostly years). Whereas in the Imu Oru/Imu Oruaka and Imu Ahia types the parents of the apprentices are asked by the mentor(s) to pay a certain amount.
In the apprenticeship training period, various skills are imbibed. Some of these skills are; the technical, managerial and interpersonal skills. Others are; Human relationship management, Forecasting, Opportunity recognition and Utilization, Inventory control and Analysis, Plan and Goal setting, Quality control, Monitoring, Supply-chain Management, Linguistic Bookkeeping and Accounting, Oral communication, Innovative, Marketing, Visionary, Change orientation, Finance, Organisational culture, Leadership, etc.
With these training, the Igobo’s are able to provide sales and services solutions covering all industries and sectors.
