As Nigeria searches for sustainable answers to youth unemployment and enterprise creation, the Akurueulo Awards will debut in 2026 to spotlight the Igba-boi apprenticeship system—an indigenous Igbo mentorship model that has quietly powered generations of entrepreneurs.
Announcing the initiative in Abuja, Chief Allwell Okata, Chief Convener of the awards, said the programme is designed not merely to celebrate success stories, but to elevate the Igba-boi system as a proven economic framework worthy of national attention, documentation and policy engagement.
The maiden edition, scheduled to hold in Abia State, will recognise outstanding mentors, former apprentices who have built thriving businesses, market institutions, diaspora entrepreneurs, and organisations that have strengthened enterprise development within the Igbo commercial ecosystem.
Chief Okata described the Igba-boi model—anchored on mentorship, apprenticeship, capital support and eventual settlement—as one of Nigeria’s most effective grassroots tools for skills transfer and wealth creation, noting that it has helped establish major commercial hubs across the country and beyond.
“Despite its scale and impact, the system has largely thrived without formal recognition or structured policy support,” he said. “The Akurueulo Awards aim to change that narrative by bringing this indigenous model into mainstream economic discourse.”
Beyond award presentations, the event will feature documentary showcases and roundtable conversations examining the origins, evolution and modern relevance of the Igba-boi system, including how it can be adapted to today’s economic realities and integrated into broader entrepreneurship strategies.
The ceremony is expected to draw policymakers, traditional rulers, business leaders, development experts and members of the Igbo diaspora, creating a platform for cross-sector dialogue on indigenous enterprise models.
The organisers noted that the initiative comes at a time when conventional approaches to job creation continue to fall short, arguing that the Igba-boi apprenticeship system represents a locally grounded, results-driven alternative with national relevance.
Preparations for the awards are ongoing, with additional details to be announced ahead of the 2026 launch.
Akurueulo Awards to Champion Igbo Apprenticeship as Indigenous Economic Solution
