By Princess-Ekwi Ajide , Abuja
Igbo apprenticeship system or Igba boi has been an age long tradition amongst Ndigbo in the South East, Nigeria.
This system, seemed to have been relegated to the background by the get rich quick syndrome over shadowing the psych of the 21st century youth.
According to an aspirant in the 2021 Anambra governorship election, Professor Obiorah Okonkwo, the system has 70 percent chances of solving the problem of youth restiveness in the South East in particular and Nigeria in general.
Professor Obiorah, was speaking in appreciation to Ndigboamaka Progressives Markets Association, Lagos, who had conferred on him, the National Grand Patron of the Association.
The group, an amalgamation of about 53 markets in Lagos State, had organised themselves to tackle problems of Igbo traders in the State.
Professor Obiorah, said the present interest of Western countries in the Igba boi system should be a wake up call for the propagators of the system, to modernise it, rebrand it in such a way that it will meet the expectations of youths who are the major beneficiaries.
He said although it is a huge task but they will succeed if they find ways of implementing the recommendations of a research study of the system by the Nnamdi Azikiwe University business school.
Professor Obiorah, called on government at all levels, Non Governmental Organisations and Ndigbo in general to embrace the system and use it as a model in their human capacity building.
For the coordinator of the group, Nze Basil Osuokwu, who said they chose the receipient because of his ardent promotion of the igba boi system, noted that they are advocating that traders should not be called informal sector because of the enormous contributions they make to building the economy of the country.
He also advocated that governments adopt igba boi, and make it digital for the benefit of the twenty first century youth whose major interest lies in digitisation.
Another executive member of the association, Chief Tochukwu Ezeani, opined that the essence of their choice of Professor Obiorah Okonkwo, was to showcase their penchant for meritocracy and not for status, class or tribe.
According to him, no one is a harbinger of knowledge hence they came together to learn from each other and expressed hope that they have a lot to learn from the National Grand Patron.
