The crown prince of Nnewi, Prince (Barr.) Obi Orizu, has stated that the apprenticeship sysyem, coupled with monitoring, is one of the reasons why Nnewi has maintained her unmatched lead in terms of economic development in the entire South-East geo-political zone of Nigeria.
According to the administrator, scholar cum entrepreneur par excellence, the systematic practice is being emulated by many countries of the world today.
The system, which he tagged “Igba boyi”, a kind of apprenticeship, where a young man serves his master for an agreed number of years, is aimed at ensuring that successful businessmen, regarded as masters or bosses, mentor, monitor and raise young men to the state of economic stability until the “boys” in turn are able to raise other boys.
Nnewi: ‘Edo’ Enriches Both Indigenous And Inhabitants – Crown-Prince Obi Orizu
According to the astute custodian of culture, the system is now being studied at the prestigious Havard University in the United States of America.
Crown Prince (Barr.) Obi Orizu stressed that why the “boyi boyi” system has been able to produce millionaires and billionaires is because after the young men have completed their years of service to their bosses, those bosses, and more experienced businessmen, ensure that they continue to guide and guard them (the boys) just as they had been doing while the boys were still serving them.
The illustrious and industrious son of Igwe K.O.N. Orizu (III) also emphasised that Nnewi town does not celebrate wealth got from inordinate means, which explains why everyone in the town, indigenous and otherwise, always work hard to ensure that legitimate success is achieved and attained.