The popular apprenticeship structure, popularly known as ‘Nwa Boi’ among the Igbos, has been one of Nigeria’s greatest wealth transfer and job creation systems. It is a silent economic engine, one that has powered livelihoods for generations but has never been meaningfully integrated into Nigeria’s national development strategy. This informal apprenticeship system – the mechanic teaching a young boy how to dismantle an engine block, the spare parts dealer at Ladipo market mentoring his boys on the dynamics of business ownership, and the cobbler training young boys on how to make footwear in Ariaria market, Aba – are micro-learning ecosystems that have shaped thousands of careers each year, yet they remain undervalued, unstructured, and absent from mainstream policy conversations.
It has become necessary to reimagine apprenticeship not as a survival pathway for the disadvantaged but as a strategic national asset for productivity and economic renewal in Nigeria. The pathway to work through informal apprenticeship is a system that is arguably the largest source of practical training in Nigeria. If properly structured, scaled, and supported, apprenticeships could become one of our most powerful levers for productivity growth.
The informal apprenticeship system in Nigeria, particularly in the Igbo-dominated commercial hubs, has attracted global attention for its unique blend of skill-building, mentorship, and entrepreneurial transition. It is a model that transforms the learners into founders. Sadly, it is also a model that remains largely informal, without government support or the data needed to optimise its national impact. This has resulted in a massive talent pipeline that grows in the shadows, unsupported and unstructured, even though it sustains the majority of Nigeria’s working population.
Apprenticeship should no longer be perceived as the alternative track for those who could not access formal education. Instead, it should be recognised as a primary driver of national skill formation, industrial development, and micro-enterprise growth. Countries that have achieved consistent economic advancement understand this. Germany’s dual vocational training system produces world-class technicians who power its manufacturing dominance. Switzerland’s vocational pathways create skilled artisans who maintain one of the highest productivity levels globally. China’s integration of apprenticeship into technical education lifted millions into skilled work. These systems thrive because they recognise that skills, not just certificates, build economies.
Read also: How Nigeria can learn from Germany’s apprenticeship success and struggles
Nigeria’s underperformance in productivity is directly tied to the neglect of skills development. Our micro and small businesses, which make up over 90% of enterprises, operate with inconsistent training and limited knowledge transfer. A reimagined apprenticeship system, structured, modernised, and aligned with industry standards, would equip these businesses with better talent, enhance their output, and ultimately raise national productivity.
Another reality we must confront is that Nigeria’s formal education system cannot meet the scale of the country’s labour demand. Even if universities doubled their intake and polytechnics expanded their programmes, millions of young Nigerians would still be left without structured pathways into meaningful employment. Apprenticeship provides the scalability that formal institutions lack. It is decentralised, community-driven, and adaptable. What it needs is organisation, recognition, and integration.
Reimagining the system begins with standardisation. While informal apprenticeship teaches valuable competence, learning is inconsistent and dependent on the capacity of individual trainers. A national apprenticeship framework, co-created with the Association of Nigeria Artisans and Technicians (ASNAT), SMEs, and industry groups, could define minimum standards, training modules, safety requirements, and skill certification processes. This does not mean bureaucratising informal businesses; it means improving the quality and credibility of the skills they produce.
Next is certification. Today, a young man may complete a five-year apprenticeship as a panel beater but emerge with only verbal validation from his master. This limits mobility, access to finance, and entry into larger value chains. A national skills certificate would anchor apprenticeship within the formal economy and give young workers a recognised identity in the labour market.
Financial support is another pillar. Apprentices often complete years of training only to struggle for the capital required to start a business. Without starter kits, microloans, or enterprise grants, the transition from trainee to entrepreneur becomes constrained. A national apprenticeship strategy should include structured financial pathways to enable job creation at the end of training.
Ultimately, reimagining apprenticeship is not just about job creation; it is about building national competitiveness. Productivity does not grow by wishing; it grows by building capacity at scale, by producing millions of skilled Nigerians who can power industries, fill value chains, and create enterprises. It grows by investing in people’s hands, minds, and abilities.
Nigeria cannot continue to rely on imported labour for construction, manufacturing, or technology implementation. We cannot build a 21st-century economy with 20th-century skill systems. Reimagining informal apprenticeship is one of the most practical, scalable, and immediate strategies for transforming Nigeria’s productivity landscape.
If we harness it correctly, apprenticeship will not merely prepare people for jobs; it will prepare the nation for prosperity.
Deborah Yemi-Oladayo is the Managing Director of Proten International, a leading HR consulting firm in Nigeria, specialising in talent development, recruitment, and HR advisory services. Email: d.yoladayo@protenintl.com
