Transfer of Competencies in Mentor-Mentee Interaction: A Study of the Igbo Nwaboi Apprenticeship System
Traditional Apprenticeship System Offers Lessons for Modern Entrepreneurship
The traditional Igbo Nwaboi apprenticeship system can help develop the skills young entrepreneurs need in the modern economy. This is evident from Uzoamaka Ikenga’s research on the interaction between mentors and their apprentices. Through intensive guidance and hands-on learning, apprentices develop not only entrepreneurial skills but also problem-solving abilities, resilience, confidence, and a sense of responsibility.
According to Ikenga’s research, this centuries-old form of mentorship thus offers insights for addressing current societal challenges. After completing their training, apprentices can become entrepreneurs and employers themselves, thereby creating new opportunities for others. Furthermore, this approach can serve as inspiration for entrepreneurship education, vocational training, and programs focused on youth employment. This can contribute more broadly to reducing youth unemployment, poverty, and economic inequality in Africa and other parts of the Global South.