Very painful on the businessman side – and a great commendation from the young men who demanded action when a businessman settled his boy with $200 after serving him for 9 years. The man’s action is absolutely condemned in all dimensions – and he must be made to settle the boy!
Yet, you do not throw a baby away with dirty water, says our elders. The spirit of apprenticeship remains across communities and can only be strengthened. This individual does not demonstrate the decency, honor and values which have enshrined this heritage in Africa and especially in the Igbo Nation.
As Tekedia Institute unveils a new course on “Igba-Boi: The Igbo Apprenticeship System”, on Monday, we are pushing reforms and templates to help the boys and the masters. We call for establishing an Igba-Boi Commission to serve as a custodian of records, references and enforcements under Ohanaeze with academic coordination from Abia State University, to ensure that the young people are protected.
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This Commission does not need to get the government wholly involved before it becomes so formalized that the masters may see it as a pure business play, diminishing the incentives and spirit behind the whole construct. But we need to have a certain framework that will be catalytic to rekindle that spirit of “onye aghala nwanne ya” [do not leave your brethren behind].
Tekedia Institute hopes to use our course to inform and educate towards a more perfect Igba-Boi by co-learning with our communities. Udo diri unu [Peace to all].
Urgency of Reform As Man Settles His Apprentice With 100k ($200) After 9 Years
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Any practice that is not institutionalised will always have a good dose of uncertainties, you simply cannot leave someone’s nine years toiling at the discretion of what the master deems acceptable. Evolution is continuous.