The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo Worldwide, has raised a committee to modernise the Igbo apprenticeship system.
The President-General of Ohaneze Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, at a press briefing in Port Harcourt, Rivers State on Sunday, said the committee will be headed by foremost pharmacist and ex-presidential aspirant, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa.
Iwuanyanwu noted that the Igbo apprenticeship system had empowered a lot of Igbo people but said the system had been weakened by modern realities.
He said it was in view of this that Ohanaeze decided to modernise the system.
Iwuanyanwu said, “This apprenticeship system is very indigenous to Nigeria. What it means is that when an Igbo man establishes a business he hires three or four people, who could be his relations, to work with them.
“He clothes them, he houses them, he will feed them but he will not pay them salaries. At the end of their terms, he will settle them, they call it (Idu ulo).
“He will give them money, which means the aggregate of the money they should have earned as salary. That person will then set up his own business and will take on another set of people as his own apprentices.
“You see, it has a geometric progression within a short time. That’s what made Igbo to be very prosperous.
“Today in Nigeria, the resourcefulness of the Igbo is clearly measured by the commanding heights they maintain in business across various parts of Nigeria.
“Now the system is no longer strong as it was. Things have changed over the years. Mark you, that thing is an old structure which has to be modernised. Ohaneze is going to find a means of modernising it.
“Ohaneze has set up a committee on business under the chairmanship of Sam Ohuabunwa. Part of their duty is to find a means of modernising it. It was like a primitive content but it served its purpose. But now, the Ohuabunwa committee will be able to find a modernised mode so that it will continue to work.”
The Ohanaeze President-General also dismissed the claim of factionalisation of the organisation, saying those pushing the narrative were merely seeking to make money.
He said, “There is no faction. Myself, Emmanuel Chukwuemeka Iwuanyanwu, I’m the President General unanimously elected by all the people.
“The first time everybody supported one person, that is me. Five governors of the South-East, all the people (supported me).
“Now, there are people who want to make money by this claim of factionalisation.”
Iwuanyanwu said Ohanaeze would continue to protect the interest of Igbo across the world, except those involved in criminal activities.
