Airline operator wants Govts to tackle unemployment through Igbo apprenticeship scheme
The Chairman, United Nigeria Airlines, Dr. Obiora Okonkwo, has called on the Federal and State Governments to use the Igbo apprenticeship structure to address the scourge of youth unemployment in the country.
Okonkwo, made the call in a keynote address he delivered at the 2022 edition of the All Market Conference, organised by the Ndigboamaka Progressive Traders Association in Lagos.
The theme of the event is, “Development And Sustainability of Nation’s Economy.” The Role of Traders and Government Agencies.
Okonkwo said the Igbo apprenticeship scheme had the capacity to mop up the army of unemployed youths and engage them meaningfully.
According to him, the Federal and State Governments have the capacity to enter into agreements with traders and other tradesmen to provide tutelage to youths and reduce unemployment.
Okonkwo said the scheme, which had proven to be a success among the Igbo people had helped them to create wealth.
The Airline’s Chief said it could be replicated across the country with government providing the needed guarantees for start up funds.
“I call on Governments across Nigeria to explore the benefits of the apprenticeship system practiced by the Igbo people and use it to address youth unemployment and fight criminality.
“What it takes is a policy on the placement of willing youths in businesses that will take them through tutelage for a period of time while government empowers them with start up funds upon completion,” he said.
“Unemployment has become the biggest contributor to insecurity, so for government to effectively tackle the situation, it must begin to think outside the box to see other ways of addressing the problem.
“When youths are meaningfully engaged, they rarely have time to engage in criminal activities.”
The United Nigeria Airline boss said providing guarantees for start up funds would be a much needed incentive to encourage youth participation in apprenticeship.
Recalls that Okonkwo, who in 2020 instituted a research at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School into how to revitalise the Igbo apprenticeship scheme and reposition it to become the new model in tackling unemployment.
Okonkwo said the report, which was publicly presented in October 2021, should form part of working and policy document of government on addressing unemployment in the country.
He said, “In October 2021, the report of the study which I instituted at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University Business School into the Igbo apprenticeship scheme was presented at the university in Awka.”
“The report made far reaching recommendations s on how to reinvent the scheme and position it as the new framework for addressing unemployment in the country
“I, therefore, believe that it has now become necessary for governments across the country to obtain copies of the study from the university.
“This is to see how they can tap into the recommendations to develop new policies that would help them to tackle unemployment and secure our states,” he stated.
Okonkwo also called on traders and tradesmen across the country to open new avenues of partnership with governments in order to make the scheme work.
