SPECIAL REPORT: ‘Fast money’ syndrome, gradual drift from apprenticeship system in Nigeria and likely economic impact
By Alagbe Elisha, Khadijat Adelani, Esther Adekanla
“A boy was brought to my fashion school some months back. I knew he won’t stay long with me from the first day because of his flashy lifestyle. About the third day of his enrolment, his parents seized his mobile phone so he can concentrate at work but the boy came the following day with an I-phone worth over N700, 000:00. This is a boy that was barely 17. Not even as old as my first son. When I confronted him on the source of the phone, he told me blatantly to my face that he has other sources of income and he wasn’t even interested in learning any skill if not for his parents. He said he has in his bank account money I can never make in five years even if I work daily from morning till dawn. He left that day and never came back”. These were the exact words of a fashion school proprietor on his encounter with some apprentices who prefer sourcing ‘quick’ money elsewhere other than acquiring vocational skills.
The jostle for scarce white-collar jobs and ‘quick money’ mentality of some Nigerians might pose a nationwide economic pandemic if the trend is not immediately checked by appropriate authorities.
The informal apprenticeship system that used to be a thriving subsector is now being subconsciously phased out over lack of interest from young, energetic Nigerians who hitherto willfully dominated the space.
While classroom learning is undoubtedly important, students are also pursuing a different type of education, oftentimes on top of their schoolwork. Informal Nigerian apprenticeships provide children with personalized vocational training from the master craftsmen of different trades. The benefits of youth apprenticeships in Nigeria are particularly advantageous for children who face a lack of education and extreme poverty. Youth apprenticeships in Nigeria provide useful skills that increase children’s future employability and help them get a head start on their careers. According to reports, at a time, up to 49% of children are involved in apprenticeships in some areas of Nigeria.
Specialty trades for apprenticeships include fashion design, plumbing, farming, weaving, pottery, carving, bricklaying, mechanics, hairdressing and many others. For children who are unable to complete their formal school education, being a skilled tradesman or artisan provides a steady alternative career track.
The informal sector’s contributions serve as a breeding ground for entrepreneurship, fostering innovation and adaptability among small businesses. These businesses, operating with limited resources and constraints, often demonstrate remarkable agility in responding to market demands and adapting to changing economic conditions.
While the informal sector may operate on the fringes of the formal economy, its collective impact on national income is substantial. The income generated by small businesses, street vendors, and informal enterprises collectively contributes a significant share to Nigeria’s overall economic output.
However, in the course of putting resources together for this Special Report, our reporters painfully observed that the everyday burden of most entrepreneurs/business owners/artisans was the possibility of not being able to train others after unsuccessful scouts for willing apprentices. Some also feared that what they laboured all their active years for would one day fall apart to pieces with no one (including their biological children) showing any iota of interest to carry on with the trade/business when they are no more.
‘Apprentices no longer want to learn, they want to make quick money, dominate their bosses’
Some artisans who spoke to NewsClick Nigeria reporters said while apprentices are increasingly scarce to find, however, those showing interest are domineering, do not have the patience to learn and are overtly money conscious.
Mr Sauban Akanji has been an auto repairer (mechanic) for over 30 years. He learnt the skill for 10 years before gaining freedom to set up his own workshop at the Egbeda axis of Lagos. He has had his fair share of domineering apprentices who sometimes dictate to their bosses. He shared his experience thus: “Things have really changed. I have never thought a time will come in this life when we’ll have to prostrate or kneel to beg people to come and learn what will sooner or later put food on their tables. I’ve had apprentices whose parents/guardians went as far as bribing them daily to come to work. No bribe, no attendance, that’s how bad it is with some of them. And because of such mentality, rather than heed instructions, they dictate.
Auto repair is a very complex skill, you cannot grab it as much as you should if you are impatience. The minimum number of years for learning auto repair ranges from 5-7 years, that is if you really want to be good at it. Tell me, where will you get people to spare that number of years these days? Some of them see our job as dirty, unbefitting and meant for low lives in the society. I once had an apprentice who complained about carrying engine, I’m over 50 and I still carry big and heavy engines. As I’m speaking with you now, I don’t have a single apprentice in my workshop; all of them want quick money.”
Speaking further, Akanji said: If you hadn’t come to meet at my workshop, you won’t see me outside and suggest I’m a mechanic. Not that I’m ashamed of being identified as one but I am smart, neat and don’t go about with workshop clothes or tools. Please pass this message to those of them that ‘Yahoo Yahoo’ (internet scam) has blinded their eyes that it won’t last forever. There is nothing like quick money. I’ve been doing my dirty job for over 30 years and God has used it to bless me with houses, cars, three graduates and I’m also expecting another baby anytime soon.”
“The only regret me and some of my colleagues share is the possibility of not being able to pass the skill on to others. You are not fulfilled as a boss if sizeable number of apprentices has not passed through you to also train others and establish theirs. Our children are graduates and are not showing interest. Apprentices are also not showing needed commitments to excel,” he said sighing.
Aside from his immediate worry of not having interested people to carry on with his legacy, Akanji’s revelation of the shortage of persons interested in learning the skill could have an adverse effect over time, if not addressed. Meaning the unavailability of apprentices would not only affect the number of jobs he could deliver per day, it also meant there would be scarcity of trained technicians to meet people’s needs on the long run. This in itself might have serious economic setbacks if not immediately looked into.
On her part, Miss Pedro Olaotan, CEO Laitty Fashion Couture said though vocational skill acquisition is still in vogue but the younger ones seem not interested because of distractions. She explained that young ladies will rather date older men or ‘yahoo boys’ who can meet their financial demands anytime.
“When it comes to fashion designing, people are still showing interest but with conditions. Apprentice of these days want rosy workspace for comfort. So they will keep searching till they get their desired place of learning. The young ladies amongst them are carried away by tokens they receive from men. They go about dating yahoo boys who they can always call when they need money hence they see no reason to acquire skills.
“Also, unlike what was obtained during out time, apprentice of today won’t go on errands. You can’t even involve them in your personal business or house chores. And I also support that. However, some of them also won’t sweep or clean the learning environment. I’ve had to send two of them away because they expect me to sweep and clean the workspace for them,” she said.
According to Miss Yinka, CEO of O_croche youths want to make quick money without putting in the work, they want to have their freedom without having to bow or take orders from anyone. “They are just unnecessarily lazy, they want to have freedom, and they don’t want anybody to boss them around. All of them want fast money without stress. Some of them also have issues with greed.”
However, Mr Salami Wale, CEO Walex Foot has a contrary opinion. According to him, people are taking more interest in skills acquisition than of old. This according to him is because bosses of nowadays are more tolerating and also for prevalence of social media which is helping awareness, interest and audio-visual learning.
“People are showing amazing interests in learning. For me, people are now acquiring skills better than they did years ago. This is because everyone wants to be independent by being their own boss. More so, we are in computer age, where social media is playing critical roles at encouraging sustained interests in skills acquisition. The era of harsh bosses that turn apprentices to house helps is gone and gone for good.
“Foot making skill for example has taken a new shape and dimension. I have three corp members presently learning this skill and there are machines helping to make the task easier. People who know what they want are taking the pain to learn and enduring today for a better tomorrow. There is no single month I don’t get at least one apprentice. Some even want to learn but don’t have the financial wherewithal.”
Ayomide started learning hairdressing at the age of 13. Sharing her experience so far with NewsClick Nigeria, She said what has kept her going was patience and good support system from her parents. “Patience is highly required in acquiring new skills. Some people lack tolerance and believe there other means to earn money faster than spending years learning how to earn money for a lifetime.
My boss has a strict personality to a point that I almost gave up on learning from her, but with the help of my parents I was able to be persistent till I acquired a better knowledge of the skill.”
Poor technical school enrolment
NewsClick Nigeria further observed that the technical schools established by the Federal Government to compliment the informal apprenticeship system are faced with infrastructural challenges or outright low enrolment.
The education sector in Nigeria (particularly the technical/vocational education) has suffered years of neglect by successive governments, hence the decay as currently obtained. The sector is structured in such a way that tertiary education is placed above other forms of formal/informal education instead of playing complementary roles. It iwas just recently that the Federal Government took decisive actions at levelling the huge and unnecessary gap between university and polytechnic graduates. Meanwhile, education, irrespective of where and when obtained, is supposed to be acquisition of knowledge, skills and attitude.
While most parents did not falter the importance of skill acquisition to complement whatever degree their children acquired, some of them expressed fear skills not taught within the four walls of a formal institution appears cheap and invalid.
“How can I allow my children learn a skill when I can afford to give them the best of education? Is it not you people that say education is the best legacy? I didn’t have the privilege of attending school while I was growing up because it was a luxury my parents can’t afford, hence my determination to ensure my children are all and well educated. If the school feels it is important to pick up a skill, it should embed it in their curriculum rather than asking me to allow them learn my handwork or register them separately with a roadside vendors also struggling to make it in life,” so said a male respondent when I asked him why he didn’t allow any of his children to learn from him, being a successful fashion designer himself.
Speaking on the dying vocational education/skills acquisition culture in Nigeria, a renowned professor and former Secretary of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Prof. Fatunde (of blessed memory) said the country’s leaders were insincere about the development of the sector.
“Funding of universities and other certificate awarding institutions has been deliberately low since the time of Gen. Yakubu Gowon.
“And, since then, teachers/lecturers have not stopped demanding quality funding of education in Nigeria. To push home their demands, lecturers consistently embark on strike action and that is still the case till now as you are aware.
“Less than four per cent of the annual budget is allocated to education. Recent findings show that a senator earns over 24 million naira monthly. That is more than my accumulated salary in 48 months! And there is nothing they are doing to justify receiving these outrageous amounts.
“We are in the 21stcentury that is governed by two issues – knowledge economy and the digital revolution.
Former President Muhammadu Buhari while urging youths to embrace technical and vocational education, said such skills were necessary to tackle unemployment and fast-track the development of the country. He also described as worrisome the wrong attitude of the youth toward vocational education in Nigeria.
He stated, “It is imperative to note that although vocational education is important for preparing the necessary manpower for a developing economy, such as ours, the youths are apathetic towards it. Enrolment into technical educational institutions at tertiary level is still at an appalling percentage. Records of enrolment into our universities in recent years show a progressive increase, while those of technical institutions have only been marginal.
“The dearth of skilled manpower at the middle level should provide a huge opportunity for our youths who attend technical based institutions or are willing to develop themselves in any of them. Nations all over the world have come to realise the importance of technical and vocational education training in strengthening economies and building formidable industries.”
Informal sector employs 76.7% of Nigeria’s workforce – Report
A new study sponsored by Jobberman Nigeria has found that the informal sector accounts for 76.7 per cent of employed Nigerians, underscoring its role as the backbone of the nation’s workforce.
The report, released in partnership with the Mastercard Foundation, highlighted the critical importance of the informal sector to Nigeria’s economy. It indicated that self-employment was a dominant trend, with 75.4 per cent of individuals engaging in informal work for at least one hour weekly.
It noted that the informal sector was particularly vital for youth, women, and vulnerable populations, offering essential job opportunities and survival pathways for millions across the country.
However, the study highlighted significant challenges facing the sector, including a skills gap in digital tools and business development that restricts growth potential.
It identified regional disparities between Northern and Southern Nigeria regarding skills rewards, talent retention, and access to training opportunities.
The rise of digital platforms further complicates the landscape, presenting both opportunities and regulatory challenges that the informal sector must address.
Unlike the informal sector, the issue of unpaid wages in the formal sector is reported. This is because its workers are covered by labour laws, have more organised work unions, and are mostly aware of their rights, things that informal sector workers lack.
The study’s lead researcher, Glory Aiyegbeni, stated, “This report unveils the informal sector as Nigeria’s hidden economic powerhouse.
It’s not just about survival—it is a hotbed of innovation and entrepreneurship.
“However, transitioning these businesses to sustainable models remains a significant challenge. We have found that many workers are trapped in survivalist businesses, unable to transition into sustainable enterprises and dignified work due to poor business environments and market conditions.”
The report highlighted the impact of digitisation on the informal sector, noting that the digital revolution had disrupted traditional informal work patterns, facilitated the formal aggregation of informal workers, and democratised upskilling platforms.
According to the report, the shift has necessitated the need for advanced, inclusive, and comprehensive work policies to address new forms of work, such as freelancing and gig work.
The chief executive officer of Jobberman Nigeria, Oreoluwa Boboye, stated, “Our findings provide a clear roadmap for harnessing the immense potential of Nigeria’s informal sector.
“By addressing the identified challenges, we can drive sustainable growth and create dignified employment for millions. It is crucial that we recognise and optimise traditional employment and apprenticeship models, such as the Igbo Apprenticeship Model, which has been recognised as one of the largest business incubators in the world.”
The report recommended several interventions to address the sector’s challenges, including the implementation of multi-channel training programs to bridge skills gaps, particularly in soft skills, financial literacy, and small business management.
It also advocated the building of marketplaces for fragmented verticals and optimising local associations to better serve young entrepreneurs.
It also called for the development of context-sensitive policies for informal workers and businesses and for recognising and enhancing traditional employment and apprenticeship models.
