Economic and Financial Rebirth of Igboland: Imu Oru; A Traditional Apprenticeship System

Abstract

One factor that sustained the Igbo economy in the pre-colonial era is the skill apprenticeship system known as imu oru. During the pre-colonial period, every industry of the Igbo thrived on a tutelage system that combined acquisition of skill and the impartation of social values. However, the advent of colonialism with its disdain for most indigenous values coupled with the discovery of oil in the 1950s led to a loss of interest in Igbo apprenticeship system on which the apprenticeship system was built upon. Unfortunately, since the 80s, when Nigeria started witnessing a serious economic declension, the Igbo has been the worst hit. This paper distinguishes between skill apprenticeship (imu oru) from trade apprenticeship (imu ahia) and argues that imu ahia does not encourage the development of indigenous industries for which the Igbo economy was laid but rather eclipses it as a result of the get-rich-quick syndrome mentality in imu ahia scheme. It appeals for a reconsideration of the Igbo pre-colonial skill apprenticeship system (imu oru) which will not only revamp the ailing economy of the Igbo people but also relive the economy of the country at large. The methodology adopted is the qualitative method of historical study which involves a critical analysis of extant literature and oral tradition. The study finds out that the Igbo people, particularly, the Ngwa group have to a reasonable extent jettisoned skill apprenticeship scheme as a result of their age-old cosmology of ‘you are not feeding me’ (m di iri la ke i), a philosophy of pseudo self-sustainability. The study therefore, reveals that the economic rebirth of the region would be realizable if the apprenticeship scheme was sustained. It therefore recommends that government should encourage skill apprenticeship scheme, and make it attractive to the youth as it would boost employment which would engender economic rebirth not only for the Igbo land but the entire country

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