If you have ever lived in southeastern Nigeria, you have heard of “Nwa Boi/Boys”.
On a hot Saturday afternoon at Ariaria market in Aba, a young boy calls out to people as they pass his Oga’s shop.
The boy looks no older than 18, but he is quick and clever. The heat of the scorching sun doesn’t bother him. He knows that in this huge crowd, there are potential customers who’ll be smitten by his charm and earnestness.
He believes that if he impresses these buyers, he’ll make his Oga some money and probably get a tip. So no matter what they want, he’s ready to find it for them, even if it means running across the market to source for extra stock himself.
Scenes like this play out every day across southeastern Nigeria, where apprenticeship is a pathway to survival, social mobility, and generational wealth.
