Street corners to skills hub: One man’s apprenticeship model transforming lives in Edo
Street corners to skills hub: One man’s apprenticeship model transforming lives in Edo
By Kevin Okunzuwa
At 39, Bassey Anyim has lived a life marked by hardship. He was forced to abandon his education after elementary school due to his father’s inability to fund his schooling.
Now a married man with children, Anyim struggles to make ends meet in a country where formal employment is scarce—even for graduates.
“The school hungry me, but no means. My father married three wives, so he couldn’t train us,” Anyim said in Pidgin English.
In 2024, Nigeria’s unemployment rate experienced fluctuations across the first two quarters, as reported by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In a nation where the unemployment rate stood at 4.3 per cent in Q2 2024—and youth unemployment at 6.5 per cent according to the NBS, the odds were obviously stacked against him.
However, Anyim found a lifeline in an unexpected place: a small phone repair shop in Benin, the capital city of Edo.
The shop, Albert O. Communication World, is owned by Albert Oshozele, a seasoned technician, who has been in the business since 2005.
After a brief stint in the boutique business—including trips to Togo and Cotonou—Oshozele returned to phone repairs, restarting his trade with just N7,000.
Today, he owns properties in choice locations in Benin, and supports a family of five and community efforts, all built from his dedication to his craft.
But Oshozele’s success is not defined solely by material achievements. Over the years, he has trained more than 70 apprentices, many of whom now run their own businesses.
Albert O. Communication World is set apart by its unique approach to apprenticeship.
Unlike traditional masters who burden trainees with errands and offer little mentorship, Oshozele actively supports his apprentices.
He provides daily stipends, transport fares, and emotional encouragement, believing, as he puts it in the local slang, “You nor fit learn any work with empty belle.”
His generosity has kept many from dropping out due to financial pressure.
“My master used to give me N300 after closing. I saved it and opened my first account with N25,000,” he recalled.
That support continues today, with Oshozele offering extra assistance to married apprentices like Anyim.
“Sometimes, if we lock up by 6 pm or 7 p.m., he gives us transport money. But because I’m a married man, he gives me more to take care of my children,” Anyim said.
Godwin Asaka, another apprentice, sees the business as a gateway to independence. A secondary school leaver, he joined the outlet in March 2024 and is hopeful.
“There’s money in GSM repair,” he says. “Once you focus and learn it well, feeding your family won’t be a problem.
“I’m catching up fast. My hope is strong. Once I open my shop, food and money won’t be problems, ” he enthused with confidence.
In Nigeria’s tough economic climate, with youth unemployment on the rise, Oshozele’s model offers a scalable, grassroots solution—where mentorship, compassion, and practical skill-building intersect.
For 14-year-old Ibrahim Ajayi, it’s about balance. While attending secondary school, he learns phone repairs with hopes of supporting his parents after graduation.
Efe Edosonmwan, 25, a graduate of Electrical Electronics Engineering from Auchi Polytechnic, now owns his own open shop, and is currently awaiting his National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) call-up.
“I started my apprenticeship with Uncle Albert during my National Diploma (ND) holidays. He’s my dad’s neighbour,” Efe recalled.
“I would spend time with other apprentices in his workshop. We would gather around him and the senior apprentices, watching closely as they repair faulty mobile phones.
“I learnt quickly because there was a high volume of work, and I was determined to gain the skills and start earning my own money.
“I began by handling minor repairs like fixing mouthpiece issues and replacing damaged battery compartment.
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“Gradually, I expanded my skills and started repairing friends’ and family members’ Android phones—handling more complex issues like calibrator replacement and other technical faults.”
Edosonmwan said he juggled his studies with his apprenticeship throughout schooling.
“As far back as my ND2 days, I could earn between N2,000 and N5,000 daily from side repairs.
“Later, when I partnered with a friend to rent a space at Ibiwe Street, our earnings increased. We now each make between N5,000 and N20,000 daily.
“However, we constantly face harassment from government officials who show up to demand taxes indiscriminately, almost on a daily basis.
“Another challenge is the high cost of renting a secure and presentable workspace.
“Some customers are hesitant to patronise us because they’re afraid we might disappear with their phones, especially with the constant clampdowns by both local and state government agents,” he lamented.
Entrepreneur James Emmanuel, based in Benin, sees Oshozele’s model as aligning with national efforts to promote skill acquisition.
He referenced the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), established in 1971 to support such programmes.
He noted that in January 2024, President Bola Tinubu set a target to upskill 5 million artisans annually, an effort mirrored in Oshozele’s hands-on, supportive training model.
“Oshozele’s model addresses the gap by combining technical knowledge with financial support, allowing apprentices to learn without distraction,” Emmanuel said.
Indeed, Oshozele’s impact goes beyond the shop. By offering purpose and direction, especially to young men at risk of idleness or crime, he plays a quiet but critical role in community development and crime prevention.
“In Nigeria, even with a Master’s degree, if you don’t have something doing, you are still like nobody. Learning a skill is better. No knowledge is wasted,” Oshozele said.
Yet challenges remain, from dissatisfied customers to economic instability, but these did not deter him from his goal.
“The government is not my business. My goal is to get daily bread, and help others get theirs,” he said.
As Nigeria confronts growing unemployment and poverty, stories like Oshozele’s shine as beacons of hope.
His bustling workshop, alive with laughter, learning, and purpose, is a reminder that lasting change doesn’t always begin with policy. Sometimes, it starts with people.
For men like Anyim, Asaka, Edosonmwan, and young Ajayi, holding a screwdriver in Albert’s shop is the first step toward building not just a career, but a life of dignity and purpose.(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
