UNIZIK Professor Advocates Modernised Igbo Apprenticeship Model to Boost SME Growth

A Professor of Management at Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, Professor Chinedu Uzochukwu Onyeizugbe, has called for the modernisation of the Igbo Apprenticeship System as a strategic solution for strengthening small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), promoting entrepreneurship, and driving sustainable national development.

Professor Onyeizugbe made the call while delivering the University's 127th Inaugural Lecture titled, "Navigating the Labyrinth of SME Development in Nigeria: Unveiling an Improved Model of the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme as a Mitigant."

He described the traditional Igbo Apprenticeship System, popularly known as "Igba Boi," as one of the world's largest informal business incubators, noting that it has produced thousands of successful entrepreneurs and SMEs over the years. However, he stressed that the scheme requires deliberate reforms to meet the demands of today's business environment.

The professor advocated the adoption of an improved and modernised model of the apprenticeship system, arguing that it should be repositioned as a strategic entrepreneurial framework capable of enhancing business growth, fostering innovation, and strengthening the resilience of SMEs across Nigeria.

He also called on the government to provide legal backing and the necessary infrastructure to strengthen the scheme, while urging financial institutions to support apprenticeship programmes through soft loans that would help fund the settlement and start-up capital of graduating apprentices, thereby reducing the financial burden on mentors.

Professor Onyeizugbe further proposed the rebranding of the apprenticeship model as "Apprenticepreneurship (Nkwado Ogaranya)," saying communities, academic institutions, market leaders, governments, and other stakeholders should collaborate to promote the new philosophy and eliminate the negative perceptions sometimes associated with the traditional system.

According to him, the improved apprenticeship model should not be viewed merely as a cultural practice but as a practical economic development strategy capable of accelerating SME development, creating jobs, stimulating innovation, and supporting long-term economic growth.

The professor maintained that with the right policy support and institutional reforms, the modernised Igbo Apprenticeship System could serve as a sustainable, Afrocentric blueprint for entrepreneurship development and significantly contribute to Nigeria's economic transformation.