A remarkable story has emerged from Anambra State, drawing widespread attention to the impact of the Igbo apprenticeship system.
A businessman popularly known as OMOLETEX Na Umuchu has reportedly built a 12-flat apartment in the name of one of his apprentices after just over three years of service—not as part of his settlement package, but as a surprise gift to encourage and reward him.
According to Omoletex, the apprentice is currently outside Nigeria and has no idea the property exists. He disclosed that he purchased the land in the apprentice’s name from the outset and recently handed over all the property documents to the apprentice’s mother.
He explained that the apartment had already attracted prospective tenants through estate agents, who initially proposed a rent of ₦600,000 per flat. However, he reduced the rent to ₦500,000 per flat to enable the tenants to move in immediately.
Omoletex also instructed the apprentice’s mother to ensure her son’s Nigerian bank account was active so that rental income would begin flowing directly into it, leaving the apprentice to discover the development through the credit alerts.
The businessman revealed that the apprentice had not even earned up to 30 percent of the amount spent on constructing the property, stressing that the gesture was purely an act of generosity aimed at motivating him.
“From today, he is the rightful landlord. My hands are completely off this property,” Omoletex declared.
The heartwarming gesture has sparked fresh conversations on social media about the Igbo apprenticeship model, with many praising it as a system that continues to create entrepreneurs, build wealth, and transform lives through mentorship and empowerment.