By Okechukwu Onuegbu
The member representing Anaocha 2 Constituency at the Anambra State House of Assembly, Hon. Ejike Okechukwu, Tuesday, said his reason for introducing Igbo apprenticeship bill popularly known as Igba boyi at the hallowed chamber was to exterminate crimes and fight unemployment.
Okechukwu, who stated this while playing host to the members of Catch Them Young Community Initiative (CATYCOI) , who were in his office on advocacy campaign, regretted that Igbo youth were no longer engaging in Ịgba boyi due to some recent observable dishonesty involving the parties.
He said the bill, which has passed through second reading and currently waiting for public hearings, has come to salvage the situation, while providing a regulatory framework to ensure fair treatment of apprentices, establish minimum standards for training, including mechanisms for resolving disputes among parties through a commission.
Okechukwu, who is also the Chairman, Anambra State House of Assembly Committee on Appropriation, urged the younger generation to support in sensitising the public about the bill because through it, young individuals would not only be placed under the mentorship of experienced artisans or business owners to serve over a period of time but would learn to succeed in trade, family and other ways of life.
"This is an informal types of education. By engaging on it, you will learn a lot from your master. You will learn how to marry, relate with your wife and train your children, your customers, gain more contracts and at the end, the commission to be established by the bill, will in partnership with any higher institution of learning issue you with a diploma certificate. The commission will also assist in settling any dispute arising from Ịgba boyi ," he added.
The lawmaker, who has sponsored over 20 motions and several bills, also sensitised the youth on his new bill, Anambra State mental health bill, which according to him, was aimed at managing issues of depression, anxiety and others by engaging the services of professional psychologists and doctors trained in that direction.
He further enumerated importance of Anambra State E-Governance bill also introduced by him, noting that it would help in monitoring and tracking government projects for inclusive and good governance with a view to hold government accountable and prevent misappropriation of public funds.
Responding, the Executive Director, CATYCOI, Comrade Nonso Orakwe, commended the Anambra State House of Assembly especially Honourable Okechukwu for legislating on policies capable of engendering community development.
Orakwe, who recalled that his civil society group had under its project, Catch Them Young for Effective Advocacy and Community Development, trained and empowered 30 youth across the 30 Constituencies in Anambra State on policy making, assured their readiness in contributing favourably in drafting, monitoring and implementing government policies through mass sensitisations of people.
Contributing, the Programmes Manager, CATYCOI, Mr Israel Oji, maintained that the practical knowledge and experience the youth have gathered from the training and advocacy visit would empower them to engage others to support government policies.
Speaking in an interview, one of the participants, Mrs Chinenye Ikele, expressed optimism that Ịgba boyi bill would help in reducing unemployment, poverty and crimes in society.