Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme: Biz School Founder Seeks 5 Year Duration, Insurance Policy

By Praise Chinecherem

Founder and President, Umunna Business School, Dr Uche Nworah, says the 7-year duration for apprentices under the new Igbo Apprenticeship (Igba Boi) Bill recently passed by the Anambra State House of Assembly, is rather too long.

The law, which takes effect from September 10, 2025, set the apprenticeship duration to a maximum of 7 years and stipulates basic education for apprentices.

It also defined the rights and responsibilities of both mentors and apprentices to ensure balance, fairness, and accountability.

The law provides a framework to guide apprenticeship, ensuring fair treatment of apprentices and setting minimum standards for training.

The legal document equally establishes the Anambra State Igbo Apprenticeship Commission to keep a register of apprentices and handle resultant disputes.

Responding to the passage of the bill, Dr Nworah, a frontline campaigner for instituting Igbo apprenticeship said the period is too long, considering societal evolution and technological enablement.

He appreciated the passage of the bill, but recommended a reduction of the duration for apprenticeship training to between four and five years.

“As someone who has spent quality time looking into the Igbo Apprenticeship scheme, any move to strengthen the scheme is welcome by me.

“However, I would have loved to see that there was enough consultation done by the State Assembly.

“This would ensure that the views of stakeholders are properly aggregated. That will give the law a better poise and ensure that all grounds are covered.

“As the Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer of the Anambra State Broadcasting Service, ABS, I convened a national summit on the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme with former Vice President, Prof Yemi Osibanjo in attendance.

“So, it is encouraging to see what the House of Assembly is doing today. But my thinking is that technology has happened and a lot of things have changed.

“I would have loved to see the law say about four to five years for the conclusion of the program,” he said.

Dr Nworah suggested that the law should accommodate insurance policy, to ensure that the masters under the scheme do not short-change the apprentices, in an event when they are not able to settle their apprentices.

“There should be some kind of insurance whereby the masters taking on these apprentices would be contributing premium under an insurance policy.

“At the end of the agreement period, if the masters are not able to settle the apprentices, the insurance would suffice for the settlement,” he said.

The social crusader also disagreed with the stipulation of the law, that the apprentices would have acquired basic education before embarking on the scheme.

“I do not subscribe to the demand that the apprentices should have basic education. The apprentices should be given the opportunity to learn the trade or business.

“The State Government can now get into some kind of agreement with local schools or polytechnics, so that while the apprentices are training, they can go there and give them some kind of certification.

“This was why we set up the Umunna Business School, so that we can take the school to the apprentices where they are training,” Nworah enthused.