By Anastasia Agunwa
A Bill for a Law to provide for the regulation of Igbo Apprenticeship System (‘Igba boi’ & Trainee) and for related matters has passed into law on the floor of the State Legislature.
This followed a motion moved for the Bill to pass through its third reading by the member representing Anaocha II constituency, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu and seconded by Hon. Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru 1 constituency during plenary on August 26.
The law would come into effect on September 10, 2025.
The Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze, who presided over the plenary had moved for the adoption of the third reading on the Bill after its consideration at the ‘Committee of the Whole’ while the lawmakers unanimously adopted it through voice votes.
Dwelling on the Bill, the sponsor of the Bill, Hon. Okechukwu said, “today the major problem staring on the faces of this nation is the problem of unemployment.
“It may interest you to know that in this part of the country, Southeast in general, in the late 70’s, 80’s and 90’s that the major employment of labour in Anambra State in particular, and Southeast in general is this ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system that were in place then.
“Because most of our Youths upcoming then were absorbed into this ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system, because we tried to have the biggest market in the whole of West Africa. And this market proves to be a fertile ground for training of our people and you know that our people live in our extended family system. All our family members whether extended or nuclear families are muted together as a people. We work together and we always fend for ourselves.
“So, Mr. Speaker, thinking deeply about what necessitated the death of ”Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system in Igbo land and Anambra in particular, and how to solve the problem, a lot of things were considered before coming up with this Bill. Mr. Speaker, it may interest you to know that ‘Igba boi’ began to die in our place, the moment a servant will serve his ‘Oga’ for like five to six years and at the twilight of the service, a story would be cooked up and the servant will be sacked without the agreed settlement.
“This kind of situation made it that most of our young boys began to see it as a wasted effort for them to continue with this ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system.
“Moreover, the emergence of social media and online marketing platforms. So all these things are what this Bill looked into, to see how we will still maintain our own standard, our own making, our own coinage of ‘Igba boi’ in a way that it will serve our people equitably well, the way it used to be.
“Mr. Speaker, a quick look at the objectives of this Bill, you will see that one is to the great ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system in Anambra State. To have a database for interested persons that want to indulge in ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system.
“We intend to have a database or record of interested persons and begin to match them with the interest of trade they have. And to create a platform to recreate issues that will form through Courts and even liberations, because most of the times, you see ‘Nwa boi’ being sacked by his ‘Oga’ and there is nobody there to speak for ‘Nwa boi’. And all the years put in that service are always dead and ‘Nwa boi’ will not be able to go back to life or to find foot into his life, thereby making some to go into crime or other social vices.”
According to him, to boost trade, commerce and employment, this Bill also looked at the rights of ‘Oga’ in this apprenticeship system and the rights of ‘Nwa boi’ in the system and the rights of the Trainee who is ‘onye na amu ahia’ in this system.
“This Bill also talked about creating Anambra State Igbo Apprenticeship Commission, a commission that will be saddled with the responsibility of galvanising all these objectives, creating the platform, creating the database and we went as far as the Commission to offer certificate to ‘Nwa boi’ that have completed his services.
“In this Bill, you will also look at the qualification of somebody that wants to go into ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system. The person must first of all acquire basic education certificate, which is equivalent to JSS 3. That will not be at variance with UBEC Act, which makes one to complete basic education before venturing into any other thing.
“So Mr. Speaker, I urge my distinguished honourable colleagues to critically look at the merits of this Bill, and see the employment this Bill will create for our people, reduction of unemployment and other things that are inherent and beneficial in this Bill”, he stressed.
Contributing, the Majority leader of the House, Hon. Ikenna Ofodeme expressed happiness that the sponsor of the Bill captured the whole lot.
Ofodeme frowned that some ‘Nwa boi’ settle themselves from the Masters’ businesses without their knowledge before the end of the agreed periods, thereby enriching their families and rendering their masters poor.
He added, “there must be an agreement on the number of years ‘Nwa boi’ will stay with his ‘Oga’ and surety will equally sign the agreement from both parties.
Others that spoke in favour of the Bill include Hon. Chidi Ibemeka representing Njikoka 1 constituency, Hon. Noble Igwe representing Ogbaru 1, Hon. Patrick Okafor (Onitsha North II), Hon. Jude Ngobili (Ihiala 1), Hon. Anthony Muobike (Aguata II), Hon. Golden Iloh (Ihiala II)and Hon. Augustine Ike representing Nnewi North constituency.
The lawmakers described the Bill as apt, and laudable, saying that it will encourage many unemployed young youths to go into ‘Igba boi’ and ‘Imu ahia’ apprenticeship system to get the secret of business from the Masters.
They noted that the Bill if passed and assented to, would enhance employment of youths and apprenticeship as well as help government to reduce the large number of unemployed youths.
“It’s a means of earning a living, especially people from poor background. And it will give the ‘Ogas’ that will train them to have confidence that after taken ‘Nwa boi’, they will not destroy their businesses.
“Research has it that many successes were recorded through ‘Igba boi’ apprenticeship system. Success rate was enormous that is why you see many billionaires in Igbo land.
“It will address the challenges of ‘Nwa boi’ not being settled or ‘Nwa boi’ stealing from his ‘Oga’. It is a treasure we should have preserved years back”, they pointed out.
The Speaker, therefore, committed the Bill to the Joint House Committee on Commerce, Trade & Industry and Judiciary & Justice for indebt report and to report back to the House in the next four weeks.
Anastasia is of the Ministry of Information, Anambra State
