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Akurueulo Awards To Recognise Igbo Mentorship-based Entrepreneurial System

BY CHIKA OKEKE, Abuja

Amid the rising unemployment, the Igbo mentorship-based entrepreneurship system continues to make impact in the Southeast region as the safest means to reduce crime and bolster livelihoods for the youth. 

With the successes recorded over the years, the Akurueulo Awards is set to debut in 2026 as a new platform to recognise Igbo mentorship-based entrepreneurship. 

Known as Igba-boi apprenticeship system, the inaugural ceremony is expected to attract public officials, traditional rulers, business leaders, policymakers, and members of the Igbo diaspora.

The Chief Convener of the awards,  Allwell Okata said that the programme is designed to acknowledge individuals and institutions operating within the Igbo trade apprenticeship framework that have played significant roles in skills development and enterprise growth across Nigeria and the diaspora.

He said: "The inaugural edition of the awards will be held in Abia State. It will focus on recognising outstanding mentors, former apprentices who have established successful businesses, market institutions, diaspora entrepreneurs, and organisations supporting enterprise development within the Igbo commercial system."

The Igba-boi model, which is built around mentorship, apprenticeship, capital support, and settlement, has existed for decades and contributed to the growth of several commercial centres across the country. 
But the organisers noted that the system has largely operated without formal institutional recognition or policy backing.
Chief Okata said that the awards are intended to draw attention to the economic relevance of the apprenticeship model and encourage broader engagement with its structure and outcomes.

He disclosed that the event will include documentary presentations and discussions on the history, structure, and contemporary relevance of the Igba-boi system, alongside conversations on how the model can be adapted to  current economic conditions.

With limited access to enterprise opportunities in Nigeria, the organisers described the apprenticeship system as one of the country’s long-standing indigenous approaches to skills acquisition and business development.

Preparations for the awards are ongoing, with more details expected to be released ahead of its formal launch in 2026.

This was contained in a statement by the Chief Convener of the awards,  Allwell Okata on Tuesday in Abuja. 

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