Igbo Model of Business Mentoring: A Gateway to Sustaining Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) In Anambra State, Nigeria

Abstract

The drastic decline in the Igbo model of mentoring their young ones by the Igbo businessmen in recent times, which was orchestrated by rising employment of salesgirls in place of apprentices by Igbo businessmen, and the unwillingness of young ones of Igbo extraction to go through apprenticeship training have engendered the awakened interest for an empirical investigation to determine the effect of Igbo model of business mentoring and the sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra state. Appropriate conceptual theoretical and empirical literatures were reviewed. The study hinged on the need for achievement theory. A questionnaire was used for the collection of data. Borg and Gall sampling technique was used to determine the sample size of 327 respondents drawn from three commercial cities of Onitsha, Nnewi, and Awka, all in Anambra State. Data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics such as t-test statistics and multiple regression models. Findings revealed that the Igbo model of business mentoring has a positive influence on the sustainability of small and medium enterprises in Anambra state. Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendation is made: government should come up with policies that encourage the Igbo type of mentoring of young ones because mentoring the apprentice by the master is very important because it helps to build a strong business synergy in the future. The engagement of salespersons by the businessmen should be scrapped.