Entrepreneurial Apprenticeship and Personal Economic Development among Igbo People (Incubating and Multiplying Business Moguls)

The title of this study is entrepreneurial apprenticeship and personal economic development among Igbo people in eastern Nigeria. The study examined the relationship between entrepreneurial apprenticeship and personal economic development among the Igbo ethnic nationality in Eastern Nigeria. The study identified and examined three approaches to entrepreneurial apprenticeship practiced by Igbo people namely: commercial apprenticeship (Imu-Ahia), Craft-man apprenticeship (Imu-Oruaka) and Agent apprenticeship (Igba osoafia). The three approaches to entrepreneurial apprenticeship generally and commonly known in Igbo land as Igba-boyi or Igba odibo mean apprenticeship. Structured Questionnaires were used as instrument for data collection. The study employed correlational research design. The population of study was 150 dealers in food stuff. The study adopted convenience sampling method and relied on use of primary data generated through questionnaire. Hypotheses were tested using Spearman rank correlation coefficient. Hypotheses were tested at 5% degree of freedom and the acceptance and rejection of the null hypotheses was that P< 0.05. The result of the tested hypotheses for the three dimensions of entrepreneurial apprenticeship with rho vales of 0.788, 0.856 and 0.899 all positively correlated to personal economic development. The study concluded that entrepreneurial apprenticeship in Igbo land is on the job practical training leading to development of competences in commerce, craft and agency. That the competence development through entrepreneurial apprenticeship exercise is equivalent to seven years of studying in the university. That the three approaches to entrepreneurial apprenticeship among the Igbo people, visa-vice Imu-Ahia, Imu –Oruaka and Igba-oso-afia provides easy and legitimate time honoured route to endowment with capital for individual /personal startup / investment and continued access to mentorship. The study recommended that entrepreneurial apprenticeship should be integrated into the career study for the students beginning from primary to university.