Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme Modernisation Takes Centre Stage at UNIZIK 127th Inaugural Lecture.
Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe Unveils Research-Backed Model to Tackle Business Failures and Drive Sustainable Growth.
AWKA, Nigeria – The iNews Times | A leading management scholar at Nnamdi Azikiwe University is poised to deliver a groundbreaking framework that could reshape Nigeria’s entrepreneurial landscape through an enhanced version of the iconic Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme.
Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe, a Professor of Management in the Department of Business Administration, will present his findings at the university’s 127th Inaugural Lecture on Thursday, July 9, 2026. His work promises not just academic discourse but actionable strategies to strengthen small and medium enterprises (SMEs), curb high failure rates, and accelerate inclusive economic growth across the country.
In this report, we examine the key developments, reactions from stakeholders, and the broader implications.
Background of the Story
The Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme, locally known as “Igba Boyi,” has long stood as one of Africa’s most successful indigenous business training systems. Rooted in generational Onitsha market traditions, the model has produced countless successful entrepreneurs by combining hands-on mentorship, trust-based capital access, and rigorous skill transfer. However, in today’s complex economic environment marked by inflation, limited formal financing, and technological disruption, the traditional system requires modernisation to remain relevant at scale. Professor Onyeizugbe’s research builds on this rich heritage while addressing its contemporary limitations.
Key Developments
At the forthcoming lecture titled “Navigating the Labyrinth of SME Development in Nigeria: Unveiling an Improved Model of the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme as a Mitigant,” Onyeizugbe will unveil years of rigorous research and a practical, improved framework. The professor, a former Director of the UNIZIK Business School and current champion of the UNIZIK Centre for Capital Market Studies, brings deep expertise.
His contributions include over eighty scholarly publications, multiple books, and landmark studies such as “Igba Boyi: A Study of the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme in Onitsha Markets.” Beyond academia, he has successfully attracted and managed significant grants, including the ₦45 million World Bank IDEAS-TVET Project for youth training in fashion and garment making, a ₦50 million Centre for Artificial Intelligence initiative, a ₦15 million grant focused on reinvigorating Igbo entrepreneurial behaviour, and international partnerships backed by the Royal Academy of Engineering and Agence Française de Développement.
Reactions from Stakeholders
Stakeholders across academia, business, and policy circles have expressed strong anticipation. A senior official at the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) https://www.sec.gov.ng, who collaborated with Professor Onyeizugbe on a recent SME-capital market forum that attracted over 800 participants, described him as “a scholar who consistently bridges theory with real-world impact.”
Entrepreneurial development experts view the lecture as timely. “Professor Onyeizugbe’s work on modernising the Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme offers Nigeria a home-grown solution that could significantly reduce SME mortality rates,” noted a development partner familiar with his initiatives.
Implications
This lecture carries profound political, economic, and social weight. With Nigeria grappling with youth unemployment and the need for diversified economic growth beyond oil, an improved Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme could serve as a scalable national model for enterprise development. It has the potential to influence government policy on entrepreneurship, enhance access to capital markets for SMEs, and empower thousands of young Nigerians through structured mentorship and skills acquisition.
What Happens Next
Following the July 9 lecture, experts expect wider dissemination of the framework through policy briefs, workshops, and possible partnerships with state governments and development agencies. The university community and broader business ecosystem anticipate that the recommendations will inform future interventions, including expansions of programmes like Anambra State’s “One Youth Two Skills” initiative, which Onyeizugbe previously chaired.
Conclusion
As Nigeria searches for sustainable pathways out of economic challenges, Professor Chinedu Onyeizugbe’s contribution at this landmark UNIZIK inaugural lecture stands as a beacon of home-grown innovation. The iNews Times will continue to track how this improved Igbo Apprenticeship Scheme model translates from academic insight into tangible transformation for Nigerian SMEs and the broader economy.
