The apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, Ohaneze Ndi Igbo, has said that it has commenced moves to modernise the Igbo Apprenticeship System, an economic system that has helped in the economic empowerment of the people.
This is because Ohaneze has vowed to continue to protect the interests of Igbo people across the world.
The President-General of Ohaneze-Ndigbo Worldwide, Chief Emmanuel Iwuanyanwu, made the announcement Sunday in Port Harcourt during a press briefing in the Rivers State capital.
Speaking on the apprenticeship system, which has become an enviable system across the world, Chief Iwuanyanwu observed that the system was currently challenged by modernity and therefore required a review.
He said Ohaneze under him has constituted a Business Committee headed by Sam Ohuabunwa, which has been mandated to carry out the review in order to bring it in tune with the times and further use it to empower the people.
Chief Iwuanyanwu stated, “This apprenticeship system is very indigenous to Nigeria. What it means is that when an Igbo man establishes a business, he hires 3 or 4 people, who could be his relatives, to work with them. He clothes them, he houses them, and he will feed them, but he will not pay them salaries.
“At the end of their terms, he will settle them; they call it Idu Ulo. He will give them money, which means the aggregate of the money they should have earned as a salary. That person will now set up his own business and collect another set of his own apprentices again. You see, it has a geometric progression within a short time. That’s what made Igbos very prosperous.”
He added, “Today in Nigeria, the resourcefulness of the Igbos is clearly measured by the commanding heights they maintain in business across various parts of Nigeria.
“Now the system is no longer as strong as it was. Things have changed over the years. Mark, that thing is an old structure which has to be modernised. Ohaneze is going to find a means of modernising it. Ohaneze has set up a committee on business under the chairmanship of Sam Ohuabunwa.
“Part of their duty is to find a means of modernising it. It was like a primitive piece of content, but it served its purpose. But now, the Ohuabunwa committee will now be able to find a modernised mode so that it will continue to work”.
On the protection of Igbo interests, Chief Iwuanyanwu said the organisation would continue to protect the interests of Igbos across the world and would stick out its neck for any Igbo who engages in criminal activities.
He stated that no ethnic group in Nigeria contributes more to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) as well as to the internally generated revenue (IGR) of governments than Igbos.
He described the people as adventurers and observed that they are found in all local government areas in the country.
He said: “Igbos are adventurous in nature. They travel a lot. Their businesses are spread all over the country. In fact, it is well known that all over the country, there is hardly any local government in Nigeria where you don’t have Igbos. Igbos are living everywhere, and wherever they live, they pursue their occupation and their business.
“They are very loyal and faithful people. They are honest in their interactions with people, and that is why they are staying there. People who are dishonest cannot survive in foreign lands. Igbos prosper wherever they go.
“They establish businesses; they build schools; they build churches; they build hospitals; they build so many things. They contribute to the gross domestic product of the area. Even with the internally generated revenue of the government, they contribute to it.
“It is clear from the record I have in my office that no ethnic group in Nigeria contributes more to the internally generated revenue of various governments than Igbos. No ethnic group contributes more to the GDP of a country than the Igbos. Wherever they go, they stay there and develop there. We are people who are faithful to Nigeria.
“Ohaneze is that structure which the Igbos established to defend our people when they face any serious hostility or aggression, which most of the time is due to their successes. Ohaneze is there to protect anybody who is being attacked unjustly.
“If anyone commits an offence, Ohaneze has no business with that. We believe in the rule of law; the law must take its course. But if any Igbo person is unjustly being treated anywhere, Ohaneze will rise to his defence.”
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