Igbo Apprenticeship System and Igbo Intelligentsia: A Dilemma
Conference: ISA 22nd Annual International Conference (2025)
Presenter(s): Ngozi Anyachonkeya, Ifeoma Nwosu-Okoli
Tags: 2025 Alex Ekwueme Federal University Nigeria Ikwo Imo State University Ndufu-Alike Ngozi Anyachonkeya Owerri
Abstract
Igbo apprenticeship system (IAS) has been acclaimed the world over as masterpiece in wealth creation, accumulation and sharing. It is in tandem with cosmology of unity is strength (Igwe bu ike); when (we) urine together it produces foam; (Anyuko mmamiri onu, ogbaa ufufo), live-and-let-live (Biri ma mbiri); and let the one who hears distress call of a relative not run away (Onuru ube nwanne agbala oso). IAS applies in all walks of life as bestseller in growing knowledge, sharing and dissemination. The paper therefore inquiries into what extent Igbo intelligentsia follow the footsteps of their kinsmen among business entrepreneurship industry in disciple making of their young and upcoming academics to enable them to grow knowledge like them and in the process encourage knowledge sharing, growth and dissemination. The paper posits a hunch: Igbo intelligentsia fail abysmally in emulating the laudable footsteps of their kinsmen in the entrepreneurship industry in growing their young as successors in the replication of knowledge sharing, growth and dissemination. The study essentially is linguistic, anchored on sociolinguistics as sociolinguistics enquires into what we do with language in society among Igbo sophists, who relent to grow disciples towards knowledge-driven knowhow for knowledge sharing, growth and dissemination. The inquiry will be based on text explication of relevant literatures and data harnessed from purposefully selected University Portals.
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