After the Nigerian Civil War, the Biafrans started from scratch through trades, mostly adopting the igba-boi apprenticeship system in Nigeria. This paper examines the impact of the igba-boi entrepreneurship system in post-Biafra for the survival of the Igbo identity. Historical–analytical and documentary methods were adopted in this investigation, through primary and secondary sources. This study found different phases of the igba-boi-apprenticeship model, which was adopted in entrepreneurship by the Igbos to survive after the war. This study found that economic towns in Eastern Nigeria, like Aba, Owerri, Enugu, Nnewi, Onitsha and Awka, have enhanced economic development. Also, it found that umu-boi and ndi-oga have synergies after freedom, as they could operate in different prime locations and exchange goods amicably. The implications for both economic resilience and community development were highlighted as experiential learning. These lessons underscore the effectiveness of communal support, mentorship and structured transitions to financial independence. It contributes to the discussions about recovery after the war, entrepreneurship in Africa, Biafran nationalism and the formation of ethnic identities. © 2025 The Author(s). Studies in Ethnicity and Nationalism published by Association for the Study of Ethnicity and Nationalism and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
Author Keywords
Index Keywords
