Apprentice Training, Mastership and Managerial Development of the Igbo Entrepreneurs in Nigeria

Abstract

Apprenticeship is an ageless method of transferring knowledge of a particular trade or business from a master to an inexperienced apprentice. Africans employed various apprenticeship methods to transfer their traditions, customs, and trades to successive generations. In Nigeria, various tribes have different methods of practising apprenticeship. This study, therefore, examines apprentice training and mastership as procedures that Igbo entrepreneurs of South-East Nigeria deploy to develop their management skills. A multi-case study approach of Igbo entrepreneurs was adopted for the study. The data were collected through face-to-face interviews, and a narrative approach was used for the analysis. Findings reveal that Igbo entrepreneurs achieve managerial development through apprentice training and mastership. The chapter recommends that aspiring entrepreneurs undergo apprentice training and mastery before investing in any business. Finally, the government and its citizens can adapt the Igbo apprenticeship model to reduce unemployment and increase business ownership across Africa.

Citation

Chikere, N.A. (2023), "Apprentice Training, Mastership and Managerial Development of the Igbo Entrepreneurs in Nigeria", Adeola, O. (Ed.) Casebook of Indigenous Business Practices in Africa, Emerald Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 45-59. https://doi.org/10.1108/978-1-80262-251-520231006