Igba boi: Anambra’s Entrepreneurship Culture
BY: Anidebe Ifeoma
It is a known fact that Igbo men especially Anambra men love to venture into business, but have you ever wondered how they thrive, prosper and succeed in their businesses? Now, let me tell you how. They apply the Igbo apprenticeship system of Igba boi.
Igba boi is an informal education given mostly to boys (especially those who cannot afford the formal education) by their masters or oga to train and raise them in every aspect of trading from buying, selling, bargaining, importing, whole selling to handling customers in order to give them a bright business future. Due to the entrepreneurial spirit, vigor, enthusiasm, and zeal Anambra men possess, they are always ready to share their wisdom, knowledge and tutelage to the boi in a bid to raise smart businessmen like them in the future for the betterment of the state.
I know you may be wondering. How does this system work? Well, most a times the boys begin the training at a young age and live with the masters for 7-10 years to enable them to understand the pros and cons of the business. He learns through observing his master in the shop and when he is well-grounded in the business, his master leaves the safety of the business in his hands trusting him to take adequate and proper care of the business and use every skill he has learned to maximize his profits. The contract between the boi and his master ends with the master giving him a huge sum of money as capital to start up his own business and just like his master, the boi obtains his own apprentice when his business is stable.
The apprenticeship system can be dated far back as 1800 before the coming of western education in Nigeria but ironically, this system has trended more than formal business schools in the country. The Igba boi system has raised boys from poverty and destitution to men of timber and caliber. One of the beneficiaries of this system is Chukwuma Ezeh who started off as an apprentice and is currently the co-founder of Gemdeconq Integrated services; a wheelbarrow rental company. Mr. Chukwuma started off as an apprentice in Onitsha’s main market but discontinued his program to open a business of his own. Today, Mr. Chukwuma serves as a source of empowerment and motivation to other youths looking to get out of poverty.
This system which is practiced predominantly in Anambra is now recognized outside Nigeria as people such as Robert Nuewirth gave a world-class Ted talks presentation on the topic ” The age-old economies of Africa and why we should scale them” He spoke at length on the beauty of Igba boi apprenticeship system, it’s legitimacy and authenticity and encouraged businessmen of the world to emulate and imitate the best informal education of trade business of Igba boi.
This system has in all ramifications stood the test of time and has continued to excel and has raised strong businessmen with leadership qualities who have contributed to the infrastructural and human development amongst Ndi Anambra.
