The Impact of Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) on the Livelihoods of Graduates and Apprentices in Lagos State, Nigeria.

Abstract

In Nigeria, where MSMEs dominate economic activity and formal Technical and Vocational Education remains inadequate, Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) persist as a critical yet under-researched pathway for skill transfer, entrepreneurship, and livelihood creation. This study examines the impact of Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) on the livelihoods of graduates and apprentices in Lagos State, with particular focus on income generation, well-being, and MSME sustainability. The study employed a mixed-methods approach, combining quantitative surveys (utilising chi-square statistics) with qualitative interviews (employing thematic analysis) to investigate the impact of Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) on livelihoods in Lagos State. Employing convenience and snowball sampling, the research involved administering online questionnaires to 236 respondents (164 graduates and 72 apprentices) from the indigenous crafts of cane weaving and tie-dye. The study found that Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) significantly improved livelihoods in Lagos State, with 99.0% of graduates reporting enhanced food security and 77.0% improved healthcare access. Additionally, personal income, business growth, and customer diversification in IAS-based MSMEs were strongly associated with improvements in housing, utilities, and the overall well-being of the operators. This study demonstrates that Indigenous Apprenticeship Systems (IAS) in Lagos State remain a critical livelihood pathway, uniquely linking business performance indicators (MBR, MPI, and BG) to multidimensional well-being outcomes in an urban African context where such empirical validation has been scarce. The study highlights IAS as a viable complement to under-resourced formal Technical and Vocational Education systems, necessitating the need for targeted support, innovation, and digital inclusion policies to sustain their relevance and maximise their impact on youth employment, sustainable livelihoods, and MSME resilience in Lagos State.