Traditional Apprenticeship Systems in Precolonial Africa and their Relevance to Contemporary Work Practices in Nigeria
G. Adekola *
Department of Adult and Non-formal Education, University of Port Harcourt, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Unemployment is one of the major challenges facing Nigeria's development process. Various attempts have been made to improve the employment situation, especially among young people, with little or no result. This study therefore discusses how Nigeria can adopt, restructure, and improve one of its traditional heritages-traditional apprenticeship-to improve employment opportunities among young people, early school leavers, and graduates of the formal education system. Apprenticeship is the process of learning or acquiring skills through enlistment with a master craftsman. In traditional society, the apprenticeship process began when a child chose a career with parental approval after consultation with the oracle. In the traditional apprenticeship system, there was usually no established curriculum or formal procedure for skills acquisition. The primary objective of the study is to examine traditional apprenticeship systems in precolonial Africa and explore their relevance and potential application to contemporary work practices in Nigeria, with the aim of improving youth employment, skills development, and the effectiveness of vocational training. The paper also discusses the problems facing apprenticeship practice in Nigeria and suggests ways forward. This discourse concludes that using traditional apprenticeship to engage idle and unemployed young people productively would not only create employment and enhance technological advancement but could also have a positive effect on security in the country.
Keywords: Traditional apprenticeship, old Africa, contemporary, work practices, Nigerian communities