Just recently, there was a massive outrage on the street of Onitsha, Anambra state where some traders at the electrical International villa market staged a protest against a businessman who is also a colleague at the market over an amount of money he gave to his apprentice of so many years. The man is alleged to have given his apprentice a hundred thousand naira as appreciation after the apprentice served him for 9 years.
This system is the Igbo apprenticeship system which is very prevalent among the igbo’s which is known as “Igba-boi”. This system is whereby a well-established businessman goes to the village to pick up a young boy he would love to help who is idle. The normal duration for the service is usually 6 years, but lately, some have begun to extend it to 8-9 years. Although the Igbo apprenticeship system has helped in establishing so many young men to become established on their own.
But I will not fail to talk about some of the shortcomings of the Igbo apprenticeship system which is gradually becoming a norm. Lately, Some established Igbo businessmen are gradually becoming manipulative towards their apprentice. There are rising cases of Igbo businessmen refusing to settle their apprentice for a reasonable amount of money for the time of their service, just like the story above-mentioned. Some even go as far as not paying them anything, even to the extent of laying accusations on them in a bid to deny paying them for the years they served.
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Although some apprentices are not genuine, during their years of service they steal money from the business, some even go as far as saving the stolen funds in a bank. Most times when their boss gets to find out about their illegal activities, during the time of settlement they begin to disclose that they were aware of those illicit acts carried out but chose to ignore them. Their ” oga” then go ahead to settle them with a small amount of money or no amount at all.
But what this article focuses on is the prevalent manipulation of what some Igbo businessmen are doing to their apprentice. Some go as far as accusing them of something they never did to deny settling them. I know a story of an apprentice that served his boss for 7 years, but when it was time for his settlement, he was accused of stealing from the business which automatically disqualified him for settlement. He was sent empty-handed.
These acts by Igbo businessmen need to be stopped especially when the apprentice is genuine. This is not what the Igbo apprenticeship is known for. I commend the fact that there was a protest against the man who settled his apprentice with 100k condemning the act. There needs to be a check on this evil practice before it ravages the system. Some greedy Igbo businessmen are using this as an avenue to manipulate their apprentice, in the process abusing the system.
Youths who want to pass through the system have become less interested due to the stories they have heard. Looking at the Igbo apprenticeship generally, although it has some shortcomings, it has elevated a lot of individuals and families from poverty. It is these practices that make the Igbo society retain its wealth, beauty, and pride. It has helped the youths not to resort to crime and other vices in society. Youths at young ages are taught how to manage a business which develops them to do better in their business when they are settled. The Igbo apprenticeship system needs to regain its true nature.