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EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 108 
 

REVIVING IGBO APPRENTICESHIP CULTURE FOR 

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha 

Department of Religious StudiesFaculty of Humanities Imo State 

UniversityImo State, Owerri 

Email: ausiwuoha@yahoo.com 

 

 

Abstract 

Apprenticeship is a system by which a person learning a craft or trade is 

instructed by a master for a set of time under a set condition. The 

apprenticeship culture which has its origin traceable to the pre-colonial Igbo 

was an indigenous effort aimed at cushioning the adverse effects of the civil 

war on the Igbo people. Under this system, teenage boys stay with their rich 

relations or neighbours under a tutelage arrangement in which they are 

exposed to the necessary rudiments and practice of a particular trade or craft. 

The apprenticeship arrangement, which may not necessarily be sealed with 

any formal agreement, lasts between five years and ten years, after which the 

apprentice is settled by his mentor to start his own business or craft as the case 

may be. Apprenticeship among the Igbo is a value that was once cherished, 

celebrated and encouraged but this particular value system amongst others is 

now in the past. This research is poised to investigate the problem that has 

necessitated the loss of this culture among the Igbo with a view to re-evaluate 

the benefits accruable from it which in the view of the researcher is needed in 

the 21st century quest for sustainable development. This research adopted the 

phenomenological method with a view to reviewing the benefits in the past as 

well as investigating the problems that have led to the loss of this culture. The 

paper recommends that in view of high rate of unemployment and the need for 

sustainable development, it is germane to revive this culture through value 

reorientation among the youths; most especially among those incapable of 

affording higher education. 

 

Keywords: Apprenticeship;, Culture; Sustainable development 

 

 

Introduction 

For the sake of history, it will suffice to note that Igbo apprenticeship system 

is a culture that has lasted since the pre-colonial era. But this system rather 

became rampant; more general and more pronounced among Igbo people after 

the civil war in order to cushion the effect of the war.Shortly after the 

Nigerian civil war in 1967, majority of the Igbo people lost virtually all their 

business and investments. Following the 3Rs policy of Gowon shortly after 

the civil war, a pacification of £20 withdrawal was approved by the Nigerian 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 109 
 

government irrespective of whatever deposit in the bank this harsh policy of 

the Nigerian government that made the adoption of the system inevitable as 

poverty hampered business funding. 

 

Many people through this apprenticeship system have achieved tremendous 

success and unimaginable progress and excellence in their businesses. The 

reason for these successes was because they were adequately settled to start 

their own business at the end of their apprenticeship by their boss. Many 

notable and outstanding business owners in Igboland attribute their success to 

what they learnt as an apprentice. To the apprentice, the system offers them 

the opportunity to acquire business acumen, discipline, good customer 

relations and exposure to suppliers and this Apprenticeship system has helped 

to spread wealth from the rich to the poor in Igbo communities; and many of 

the successful Igbo business men of today affirm to have gone through this 

system. This culture created a sustainable and enviably raw initiation-

incubation/training-investment system that continues to soar as a means of 

livelihood and sustainable wealth in the South Eastern part of Nigeria. Shortly 

after the civil war, the Igbo were monetarily not able to continue their legacy 

of staying ahead of other tribes in Nigeria. Being aware of this limitation, they 

turned their troubles into a model, worthy of emulation. Today that tough 

choice has metamorphosed into a positive lifestyle. 

 

Conceptual Clarifications 

 

Apprenticeship  

Apprenticeship is a system by which a person learning a craft or trade is 

instructed by a master for a set of time under a set condition. Apprenticeship 

is also a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a trade or 

profession with on-the-job training. This system is often accompanied with a 

study (classroom work and reading). 

 

What is Development? 

According to Karl Pearson, “development is an ancient concept but one 

which, in our modern age, has acquired new meaning and purpose. Its pursuit 

unites two strands of human thought: the belief in progress and the conviction 

that man can master his destiny” (2011:104).Development has varied 

interpretations depending from the scholar’s viewpoint. The concept of 

development and in this case development in Nigeria lacks a unified definition 

as different scholars tend to view it from varying perspective. While some 

scholars look at development from the aspect of educational training, others 

view it from the angle of availability of infrastructure within a community. 

Koffi Annan, a former United Nations Secretary General, provides a good 

example of an international relations scholar by suggesting in a 2003 United 

Nations Human Development Program Report that “development embraces 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 110 
 

human rights and good governance, access to education and health care and 

ensuring that each individual in rural and urban areas has opportunities and 

choices to fulfil his or her own potential” (UNDP, 2003) 

 

Sustainable Development 

According to Uche (1995), sustainable development is a socio-economic and 

political movement or strategy that has a global appeal whose main focus is 

on the dual issues of environmental protection through a conservation process 

and economic development that would make life on the planet earth pleasant 

for the inhabitants. For World Development Report (1992), sustainable 

development refers to meeting the needs of the present generation without 

compromising the needs of future generation. 

 

Apprenticeship System among Igbo Nigerians 

Among the Igbo, hard work is encouraged and independence is a culture that 

frowns at laziness and teenagers perambulating the streets without handwork.  

In case one is unable to go to school, his parents ensure that he learns a trade.  

Usually, arrangements would be made to intern with a relative who runs either 

a spare parts, building materials, supermarkets business etc for a specific 

period of time to learn the trade. It is an unpaid apprenticeship- but meals, 

clothing and transport fare are provided for. There are some who are sent to 

learn craft such as motor electrician, mechanics, carpenter, wielding, etc. 

When the agreed years are over and the individual has been proven to be good 

to operate independently, the master sets up the business/trade for the 

apprenticeship. Sometimes, in order to prevent the apprentice from 

misappropriating the capital, the master tells him that at the end of one year, a 

certain percentage should be returned. The apprentice graduate in turn also 

gets his own apprentice who learns under his tutelage. 

 

There are cases of apprentices managing a business branch with little to or no 

supervision. This is done with ownership mind-set that the success of the 

business guarantees theirs. It also in the long run encourages them to commit 

enough sweat equity into it. 

 

According to Robert Neuwirth (2018), the Igbo apprenticeship system is the 

largest business incubator platform in the world because when an apprentice 

serves, his master is expected to set him up in business. He further added that 

apprenticeships that work like locally generated venture capital and systems 

for allocating scarce resources can propagate and scale these models that 

could help communities thrive from the bottom up. 

 

For example, Chiagoziem is a 34 year old Marble Store Owner in Dei-Dei, 

Abuja. According to him, “My Oga gave me N12 million after 9 years. I 

joined him at 16 years, and 30 percent of that N12 million is a loan to be 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 111 
 

repaid over my first 5 years. I finished paying 9 years ago, but he gave it all 

back to me.”. 

 

Many of the rich men in Igbo land like Mr Innocent Chukwuma of Innoson 

Motors, Mr Cosmas Maduka of Coscharis Motors, Chief ChidiAnyaegbu of 

Chisco Motors, Chief Alex Chika Okafor of A-Z Petroleum/Chicason Group, 

etc, went through this apprenticeship scheme. Many of today’s rich Igbo men 

came from very poor families. This apprenticeship scheme gave them the 

foothold to rise to wealth, for their parents would have not been able to pay 

their school fees or give them the money required to start a business that has 

prospect. 

 

Peculiarities of Igbo Apprenticeship System  

The Igbo apprenticeship in comparison with the apprenticeship system in the 

South-West (predominantly Yoruba) region reveals an interesting similarity. 

To the Yoruba, the apprentice, upon completion of their apprenticeship pays 

the master a ‘freedom fee’, buys drinks and throws a party according to 

his/her financial abilities before they can graduate and get on with their trade 

officially. The period of apprenticeship is usually 2 – 3 years on the average. 

The apprentice is usually presented with a certificate. The apprentice does not 

necessarily live under the care of his/her boss and is responsible for his/her 

own feeding in most cases.  

 

Conversely, in the Igbo apprenticeship model is a departure from the above. 

Apprentices join an established business person; leave their parents/family to 

live under the care and supervision of the master. The apprentice is often 

closely related to the master. They do not travel home during festivities to 

their family without the consent of the master even if the master and family 

are in the same city (Okoro, 2018). 

 

Igbo apprentices also do other domestic chores in the house like car washing, 

ironing and cleaning whenever they are not in the shop. They are appraised 

based on not just work ethic while learning and growing the master’s 

businesses but on performance in non-business related areas like respect for 

the master’s spouse/family etc. 

 

At the end of the apprenticeship, they are compensated with a take-off fund 

which they use for shop rent, goods, equipment (if needed) and in some cases, 

accommodation for a given period of time. This does not in any way prevent 

collaboration with the master despite being a competitor. In some cases, due 

to the apprentice’s weak buying power, a master can assist with goods 

procurement for a former apprentice to help them reduce overhead 

importation/exportation cost. 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 112 
 

Apprentices avoid the malicious use of the master’s resources as it is believed 

that such actions could inhibit success in their own future businesses. This 

fear engenders honesty during the years of service as every proven act of theft, 

diversion of fund, flamboyant use and wastage of business finances terminates 

the arrangement (Okoro, 2018). 

 

No master would want to incur the wrath of the community back home, by 

failing to keep to the terms of apprenticeship after the agreed number of years 

of service. In view of the fear of labelling as a master with a reputation for not 

settling apprentices - a tag that lasts generations, the master does everything 

possible to fulfil their obligation. Apprentices accept a small settlement 

package given with the master’s blessings rather than a fat but stolen fund 

from his master.  

 

Influence of Civil War on Igbo Apprenticeship System 

During the Nigerian Biafran war that lasted from 1967 – 1970, Igbo 

entrepreneurs, business owners and workers suffered unimaginable losses 

leading to untold hardship and poverty. The Federal Government through her 

draconian policy permitted only a withdrawal from banks a paltry amount of 

20 pounds no matter what amount the individual had in the bank. As if that 

was not enough obnoxious, their properties were also declared abandoned. 

The hardship that these policies brought to bear on the Igbo people is better 

experienced than explained. 

 

However the entrepreneurial acumen of Igbo people was not taken away and 

this underscored their concerted efforts to rejuvenate Igbo economy. This has 

also deepened Igbo apprenticeship system which is already a way of life for 

the survival of the Igbo man. 

 

According to Stears Tosin Adeshokan in Aake (2018), “...by the end of the 

War in 1970, the region was so devastated that money and human capital were 

scarce.”(p.43). In his views, “Thousands of people were unable to return to 

homes they previously owned in other parts of Nigeria. Not only was the hope 

of Biafra lost, but livelihoods were also halted. Petty trade became one of the 

few ways money could be made.”(p.45). He further notes that prior to the civil 

war, the Igbo were largely in their third generation of foreign-trained 

professionals, at least a step ahead of the Yoruba. The civil war actually 

destroyed all of such ambitions. Muhammed Haruna writing an article in The 

Nation newspaper titled 'People and Politics', states that “by 1963, the Igbo 

were producing their second generation in Law, Medicine and Engineering.” 

(The Nation, October, 2015) 

 

 

 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 113 
 

Benefits Accruable from Apprenticeship Culture 

Apprenticeships system generally stimulates economic development. When 

the right things are done for people in a community, business grow and 

economic development is engendered. Industries may become involved in 

other local and regional workforce development efforts as well as government 

support to ensure development. However, industries and governments cannot 

do it all but what is required to sustain growth and development particularly in 

Nigeria is the apprenticeship culture which the Igbo is dubbed. 

 

Skills acquired through the apprentice system become lifelong and long-

lasting. Soft skills and habits is often needed to be developed in many people 

who lack a high school certificate or bachelor’s degree. Coupled with that, 

there are few, well-paying jobs for those who must have acquired higher 

education. 

 

Apprenticeship system creates independence and distribution of wealth. An 

apprenticeship program encourages apprentices to be independent and foster 

wealth creation and distribution, thereby leading to economic growth needed 

for sustainable economic development. It’s not by compulsion for individuals 

to participate. Over time, if willingness is developed, it will engender 

economic development as well as cultural development. 

 

Apprenticeships among Igbo people improve corporate culture. Giving people 

the opportunity to grow and develop has had a positive impact on corporate 

culture. Apprentices trust they can become the best for their benefactors and 

also aspire to become the best version of themselves.  Human resource 

development, wellness, job creation, and other initiatives offered in-house in 

apprenticeship system inspire more people to participate in the process. 

 

Apprenticeships help with knowledge sharing. The youngest and least 

experienced apprentices will take on attitudes of older, skilled ones. One 

needs not wonder why apprenticeships system help create a society where 

people think as a community to nurture and educate one another for society. 

When a boss provides training and opportunities for his apprentice to acquire 

the necessary skills to excel personally and they are financially supported and 

established, the apprentice will be happy and in turn extend such good gesture 

to others. 

 

Apprenticeship helps businesses develop highly-skilled employees. 

Apprenticeship programs also reduce turnover rates, increase productivity and 

lower the cost of recruitment. No doubt, apprentices provide manpower. 

Additionally, apprenticeship 

 Helps in producing results and highly-skilled businessmen, tailored to 

the specific needs of businesses,  



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 114 
 

 Increases knowledge transfer through on-the-job learning from an 

experienced mentor, combined with education courses to support 

work-based learning. 

 are structured training programmes which give you a chance to work 

(literally) towards a qualification. They help you gain the skills and 

knowledge you need to succeed in a chosen skill. 

 give fantastic experience apprentice in the working world and shows 

that he can ‘hit the ground running’ and provide real chance to put 

skills acquired and practice with confidence in a chosen environment. 

 

Problems Militating against Igbo Apprenticeship Culture 
One of the major problems militating against Igbo apprenticeship culture in 

the contemporary times is the evil of get-rich-quick syndrome. The get-rich-

quick syndrome is doing more harm than good to the Nigerian society. As 

such, most youths today are no longer interested in apprenticeship neither do 

they care about the dignity in labour To them hard work encouraged under the 

apprenticeship system is a waste of time, all they care about is making money 

at the expense of others. This accounts for the reason why our mechanic, 

carpentry and wielding workshops are replete with old men.  Instead, these 

youths delve into armed robbery, political thuggery, kidnapping, “yahoo and 

yahoo”, money ritual etc which are vices that are not helpful to Nigerian 

society. 

 

A visit to a mechanic workshop in Alaba market Owerri, an old Mercedes 

mechanic has this to say “the young boys of today are no more interested in 

learning the job even when they come; they leave within a week; some who 

stay a little longer, hardly complete their training.” They are dissuaded by 

flamboyant display of ill-gotten wealth. What is more worrisome is the fact 

that most youths detest higher education because they believe it is a waste 

given the fact that unemployment is on the increase.. Obviously, the Igbo 

apprenticeship scheme can serve as a panacea to a society of saturated labour 

market and dearth of employment. Unfortunately, the youth are not interested.  

Another problem militating against the apprenticeship culture is the fact that 

most boss renege on agreement to settle and set up the business/trade for their 

apprentice after graduation from the apprenticeship. As much, it is not in 

doubt that some of the apprentices are the architect of their own misfortune, 

but the obvious remains that most wicked masters tactically deny their 

apprentice of their entitlement of faithful stewardship. This they do by 

accusing them of embezzlement, insubordination, etc. There is also some 

unverifiable accusation of untimely death of apprentice which is linked to the 

unwillingness of their masters to fulfil their required obligations.  

 

 

 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 115 
 

Reviving Igbo Apprenticeship Culture 

Much has been said about the uniqueness of Igbo Apprenticeship system 

popularly called ‘Imu-Ahia’, which literally translates to ‘learning 

market/trade’. It has been considered as perhaps, one of the major factors that 

helped pull majority of South-Eastern families out of poverty shortly after the 

Biafran civil war. 

 

There have also been the calls for a restructuring and mainstreaming of the 

apprenticeship system in accordance with the contemporary realities of 

business funding, processes and training. And based on the benefits inherent 

in the system, the researcher enjoins the people as well as the Nigerian 

government to revive this culture as it holds the prospect of wealth creation 

and distribution.   

 

Learning a trade has always been the norm with the Igbo people of South-East 

Nigeria. An Igbo person believes in controlling his financial ‘destiny’ and the 

best way to guarantee this was through commerce and venture into business. 

Reviving this culture has become germane in view of the much talked about 

sustainable economic development and in reconsideration of the benefits 

discussed above   

 

Conclusion 
The writer has discovered that the Igbo apprenticeship culture sufficed in 

providing economic stability for the people of eastern Nigeria after the 

devastating effect of the Nigerian Biafran war and beyond. It was also 

observed that this culture has nosedived due to the identified problems 

discussed above. But the researcher is of the view that the culture must be 

revived going by the benefits and prospects it holds not just for the people of 

the southeast but for the country. The need to grow businesses in Nigeria 

cannot be overemphasized in an economy with a very frightening level of 

unemployment. The Igbo apprenticeship culture holds great prospects for 

sustainable economic development, hence it should be revived. 

 

The apprenticeship system which has long been part of Igbo culture is such 

that purports a form of responsibility on established businessmen in urban 

areas to pick up teenagers-young adults from their homes and give them an 

informal, but raw and practical, cutthroat business education. The idea centres 

on taking them off the streets and the perilous tendencies of an idle mind to 

give them a purpose, worthy of emulation, so they can also continue the trend 

when they are established. 

 

In the end, the Igbo apprenticeship system is more gratuitous than the strict 

business of modern incubation. The Igbo have always stayed ahead of the 

business curve, in an ideal that originates from their struggles. If this trend 



EVAIA: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ETHICS AND VALUES Volume 1, NO. 1,  July, 2020 

 

Rev. Sr. Dr. Clara M. Austin Iwuoha                                                                                                                            Page 116 
 

continues and Nigeria somehow finds a way to encourage it, Aba and other 

Igbo business hubs, might take absolute control of another channel of national 

wealth creation different from crude oil. 

 

This apprenticeship culture is what has helped to spread wealth from the rich 

to the poor among the Igbo. It helped the Igbo to recover fast after the 

devastation of the Nigerian Civil War in which they lost virtually all their 

wealth and received the “ex gratia” payment of £20 irrespective of their 

deposits in the banks. It helped to spread the art of trading and money 

management among the Igbo. It helped to teach Igbo how to fish rather than 

giving them fish. Nigerian venture capitalists should also look to modernize 

the Igbo apprenticeship system. 

 

 

References 
Karl Pearson (2011) Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications, 

Sixth Edition. William Crain. Prentice Hall. 

ChineduOkoro(2018). “What makes the Igbo Apprenticeship Model Tick and 

Critical Considerations before taking it Mainstream” from: 

https://techpoint.africa/2018/11/07/igbo-apprenticeship-system-

for-startups/. 28/11/19 

Motolani Alake (2018).”The Igbo Apprenticeship System that Builds Wealth 

and Started the Incubation System” Retrieved from 

https://www.pulse.ng/gist/imu-ahia-the-igbo-apprenticeship-

system-that-builds-wealth-and-started-the-incubation/q50ps44. 

28/11/19 

Robert Neuwirth (2018) “Igbo Apprenticeship System is World’s Largest 

Business Incubator Platform” Information Nigeria. Retrieved 

from https://www.informationng.com/2018/11/igbo-

apprenticeship-system-is-worlds-largest-business-incubator-

platform-robert-neuwirth-reveals.html 28/11/19 

Uche, S.C. 1995. Education and Sustainable Development. In M.B. Lawal, 

E.J. Aniah, S.C Uche& I.A. Animashaun (Eds.).Education for 

Sustainable Development. Macmillan, Lagos.  

United Nations Development Programme Commission on Human Security. 

(2003) Human Security Now, New York. (hereinafter referred to 

as “Commission Report”), p4. 

 

 

 

 

https://www.pulse.ng/gist/imu-ahia-the-igbo-apprenticeship-system-that-builds-wealth-and-started-the-incubation/q50ps44.%2028/11/19
https://www.pulse.ng/gist/imu-ahia-the-igbo-apprenticeship-system-that-builds-wealth-and-started-the-incubation/q50ps44.%2028/11/19
https://www.pulse.ng/gist/imu-ahia-the-igbo-apprenticeship-system-that-builds-wealth-and-started-the-incubation/q50ps44.%2028/11/19

