Igbo Apprentices to Become Certificated As Anambra State House of Assembly Pioneers Passage of "Igba Boi" into Law
For centuries, the Igbo Apprenticeship model has existed among the Igbos in the Eastern part of Nigeria becoming an informal school of entrepreneurship. Now, the centuries-old mentorship system has been given Legislative backing with the passage of the Igba Boi bill into law, paving ways for creation of a dedicated commission to oversee registration of apprentices, training terms and tenure as well as certification among other things.
By: Olufemi Orunsola
In a landmark move geared towards giving contemporary legislative framework and filip to the centuries-old Igbo apprenticeship entrepreneurship system, the Anambra State House of Assembly has officially passed the Igbo Apprenticeship Bill, popularly known as “Igba Boi,” into law.
OPEN TELEVISION NAIJA (OTN) News reports that the pioneering legislation will come into effect on September 10, 2025.
OTN News further reports that the newly passed law formally recognizes and provides a legal framework for the traditional Igbo apprenticeship system—a centuries-old mentorship practice that has long driven entrepreneurship and economic development among the Igbo people located in states like Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Imo,
Among other things, the bill stipulates a maximum apprenticeship duration of seven years and mandates that apprentices must have attained a basic level of education before enrollment.
Meanwhile, a major highlight of the entrepreneurship based law is the establishment of the Anambra State Igbo Apprenticeship Commission, a regulatory body tasked with registering apprentices, maintaining databases, issuing certificates of completion, and resolving disputes fairly within the apprenticeship relationship.
The law aims to curb exploitation and ensure equitable treatment by requiring written agreements detailing the duties, duration, and terms of apprenticeship.
With this development, Anambra State, under the leadership of former Central Bank of Nigeria’s Governor, Charles Soludo, has become the first state in Nigeria to pass the Igbo Apprenticeship Bill into law.
Speaking on the development, the Speaker of the House, Rt. Hon. Somtochukwu Udeze has expressed his delight in the passage of the Bill to law, noting that it came through a commendable series of collaborative efforts, noting that it is a blend of cultural preservation and modern governance.
“We are taking what our forebears gave us and building a stronger, fairer system for generations to come,” the Anambra State House of Assembly Speaker maintained.
OTN News observes that the Igbo Apprenticeship model is one of the oldest entrepreneurship promotion systems in Africa that has stood the test of time despite modernization though faced with many challenges, most of which the new law intends to overcome.
With the pioneer legislation by Anambra State, it is hoped that other states across the eastern part of Nigeria where the egalitarian business model thrives may follow suit.
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