UNIZIK Lecture Highlights Igba Boi as Proven Pathway to Youth Employment and SME Growth
By Ngozi Obileri
The traditional Igbo apprenticeship system, popularly known as Igba Boi, has been identified as one of the most effective models for tackling youth unemployment, promoting entrepreneurship, and driving small business growth in Nigeria.
The position was reinforced during the 127th Inaugural Lecture of Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka, where scholars, government officials, and development experts examined the relevance of the age long apprenticeship model in addressing contemporary economic challenges.
Representing Governor Chukwuma Charles Soludo at the event, the Deputy Governor of Anambra State, Dr. Onyekachukwu Ibezim, said Anambra has taken deliberate steps to position young people for self reliance through policies and programmes that support skills acquisition and entrepreneurship.
He noted that the state government has already enacted legislation to formalise and strengthen the Igba Boi system, making it easier for apprentices and business owners to participate while preserving one of the South East’s most successful indigenous economic models.
Dr. Ibezim also called on the private sector to partner with government in expanding the apprenticeship scheme, describing it as an informal business school that has produced thousands of entrepreneurs, created sustainable livelihoods, and strengthened small and medium scale enterprises across the region.
Declaring the lecture open, the Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Professor Stanley Anyaechie, described the theme, “Navigating the Labyrinth of SME Development in Nigeria: Unveiling an Improved Model of Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme as a Mitigant,” as timely and relevant.
He said the university remains committed to generating research driven solutions that address national development challenges and contribute to economic growth.
Delivering the inaugural lecture, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe of the Department of Business Administration, Faculty of Management Sciences, presented research highlighting the economic benefits of the Igba Boi system, while identifying areas requiring reforms to maximise its impact.
He commended the Anambra State Government’s One Youth Two Skills initiative, describing it as a transformative programme that has empowered many young people to become successful entrepreneurs.
According to him, the initiative has become a model that is now being replicated by the Federal Government and several states as an effective strategy for reducing unemployment and promoting enterprise development.
Professor Onyeizugbe recommended that apprenticeship training should run alongside formal education to equip young people with both academic knowledge and practical business skills.
He also advocated greater inclusion of girls in the apprenticeship system, stressing that expanding opportunities for female participation would further boost entrepreneurship and the growth of small and medium enterprises.
The professor acknowledged the support of organisations such as SMEDAN, the World Bank, and the United Nations Development Programme in advancing SME development and entrepreneurship across Nigeria.
Speaking after the lecture, the Commissioner for Youth Development and Sports, Mr. Patrick Agha Mba, commended Professor Onyeizugbe for his contributions to the success of the state’s One Youth Two Skills programme, noting that his expertise has helped make the initiative one of the most impactful youth empowerment schemes in Anambra.
The inaugural lecture reaffirmed the growing recognition of the Igba Boi model as a practical, homegrown solution for youth employment, wealth creation, and sustainable economic development in Nigeria.
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