THE INFLUENCE OF IGBO APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM ON ENTREPRENEURSHIP DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST, NIGERIA

Abstract

The study examines the influence of Igbo apprenticeship system on entrepreneurship development in Southeast, Nigeria. The study aims to achieve the following objectives: To assess the influence of apprenticeship incubation on business ethics and principles in Southeast, Nigeria. And to evaluate the influence of social networking on business expansions of SMEs in southeast, Nigeria. 272 founders of SMEs operating within the selected major markets across the five states in Southeast, Nigeria, were conveniently sampled for the study. The findings from the study reveal that apprenticeship incubation has a significant influence on business ethics and principles of entrepreneurs in selected markets in Southeast, Nigeria {<= 48.00; <= 45.50, p< .05; and social networking has a significant impact on business expansion of selected SMEs in the selected markets in Southeast, Nigeria {X2 = 8.32, p< .05}, The findings concludes that apprenticeship incubation and social networking play pivotal roles in the development of entrepreneurship in Southeast, Nigeria. Based on the results, the study recommends SMEs founders should sustain the indigenous system by integrating the scheme in their business operations. Also, that state governments in Southeast region should make laws that will formalize and legalize the Igbo apprenticeship system.