In a landmark development, the Anambra State House of Assembly has officially passed the Igbo Apprenticeship Bill (popularly known as Igba Boi) into law, marking a bold step towards institutionalizing and reviving one of the most celebrated indigenous economic empowerment systems in Igboland.
The new law mandates a minimum education level of Junior Secondary School 3 (JSS3) for apprentices, pegs the duration of apprenticeship at seven years, and establishes a state commission that will oversee the registration, regulation, and resolution of disputes arising from apprenticeship engagements.
Lawmakers in Anambra believe that, when properly enforced, the law has the potential to breathe fresh life into the Igba Boi system, which has for decades stood as a model of mentorship, wealth creation, and youth entrepreneurship across the South East.
Interestingly, the move by Anambra State comes at a time when Enugu State has already been making significant strides in youth-focused apprenticeship and empowerment initiatives. The ongoing apprenticeship empowerment scheme, kick-started by Enugu youths under Nkanu Youth Organisation [NYO], in Enugu State, has been widely commended for offering young people structured mentorship opportunities, vocational skills, and pathways to financial independence. Anambra is therefore seen as borrowing a leaf from Enugu’s bold example by formalizing the practice through legislation.
Stakeholders have hailed this development as a step in the right direction, stressing that the law would not only preserve cultural heritage but also provide young people with sustainable economic opportunities in an era where unemployment remains a major challenge.
Observers say that if both Anambra and Enugu sustain these initiatives, the South East could witness an entrepreneurial renaissance that would further consolidate the Igbo reputation for commerce, innovation, and self-reliance.
