The study on reinvigorating the Igbo entrepreneurial behavior through enhanced apprenticeship programme, commissioned and funded by founder of Pro-Value Humanity Foundation and candidate of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP) in the Anambra governorship election, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, is now set for public presentation.

The study, which began in January 2020 and anchored by the Business School of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK), Awka in Anambra State, will be presented to the public at an event to be hosted at the ASUU Secretariat of the University on Wednesday, October 20, 2021.

Speaking when he presented the last tranche of funding for the study to the research team at a ceremony which held at his country home in Ogidi Anambra state, Dr. Okonkwo expressed happiness that his vision towards reinvigorating the apprenticeship system in Igboland and through it enhance the entrepreneurial spirit of the people, had become reality.

He said the study would help create jobs as it will open a new vista into the apprenticeship system in Igboland, which he noted, had produced great entrepreneurs and business leaders who created employment and engaged the youth.

According to him, outcome of the study will go a long way towards helping state governments, corporate organizations and the country at large to find alternative ways to create jobs and take restive youths out of the streets.

“This is not just a study for Anambra State. It is for the entire south east and Nigeria in general. I expect state governments and the federal government to take cognizance of the findings and use them to explore other ways of getting youths engaged. I also expect corporate bodies to make use of the outcome of the study to enhance their corporate social responsibility towards the people.

“If fully implemented, I expect this to go a long way towards helping us restore peace to our country as the more youths we are able to engage with jobs, the more peaceful atmosphere we create for public and private enterprise to thrive and the society will be better for it.

“So, this is a great work and I congratulate the research team led by Prof. AU Nonyelu for the efforts and sacrifices they put into achieving this great work. I am proud of the team for their relentless effort in ensuring that the research was concluded in record time,” Okonkwo said.

Commenting, Prof. Nonyelu who is the lead researcher, said the study was the first of its kind in Nigeria adding that the scope of the study was encompassing.

According to him the study covered all the markets within and around Onitsha metropolis adding that great insights were achieved in the course of the interaction with the respondents.

He said the respondent included apprentices and their bosses, adding that the outcome will greatly impact of the rejuvenation of the apprenticeship system in Igbo land so as to make it a strong avenue for job creation.

“This is the first of this sort of study in Nigeria. The scope was large and I expect the World Bank to buy into this study and make use of the findings to develop new strategies and structures for job creation and employment.

“Our findings will be made public on Wednesday October 20 and I expect that our country will be better for it if the outcomes are adopted, and implemented, by the federal and state government as well as corporate organization,” he added.

Prof. Nonyelu thanked Dr. Okonkwo for single handedly funding the research through one of his foundations, Pro-Value Humanity Foundation, which seeks to help recreate humanity.

Present at the ceremony were Prof. Ezimma Nnabuife and Dr. Chinedu Onyeizugbe, co-principal investigators on the research team.

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