A youth-focused apprenticeship onboarding conference organised by Steady Your Shot Aka Oru was held on Monday, January 19, 2026, at the Studio Hall, Orji, Owerri, Imo State, with the objective of equipping young people with practical and industry-relevant skills through free mentorship.
The conference, convened by Mr. Burgus Chukwuezi, was themed Apprenticeship Onboarding and offered selected youths the opportunity to undergo structured mentorship at no financial cost across various professional units.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Chukwuezi stated that the initiative was driven by his desire to make meaningful and sustainable impact in the lives of young people by helping them acquire future-ready skills. He explained that the onboarding process was anchored on trust, discipline, and integrity, emphasising that participants must uphold the image and values of the programme to ensure its continuity and long-term success.
According to him, the vision of Aka Oru is to raise an empowered generation of competent and value-driven entrepreneurs committed to developing innovative solutions for the good of humanity. He described the Aka Oru community as a collaborative ecosystem where individuals connect, share ideas, and grow under the guidance of industry experts through a structured apprenticeship system. The programme operates under the guiding mantra, “Everyone must have a skill.”
The initiative enjoys the support of several partner organisations, including Photo Box Studio, Sleekblue Media, Dikachi Pauline Media Hub, Palmtech, Billion Crafts Limited, Joseph’s Pot, Cold Hubs, Imo Digital City Limited, among others.
These partner organisations provide hands-on training in diverse areas such as fashion and tailoring, culinary arts, graphic design and printing, photography, videography, content creation, foreign exchange trading, mobile videography, automobile mechanics, live streaming, and digital technology.
One of the partners in attendance, Mr. Martins, Chief Executive Officer of Sleekblue Media Houz, explained that his decision to support the initiative was inspired by personal life experiences. He encouraged the apprentices to remain committed, disciplined, and intentional throughout the learning process.
During an interactive session, the apprentices shared their expectations and career aspirations. Praise, assigned to Palmtech, expressed optimism about gaining in-depth knowledge during the internship and standing out through value-driven performance. Eric, also placed at Palmtech, said he aimed to acquire relevant media skills and build a strong online presence. Peace, assigned to Joseph’s Pot, stated that her goal was to master content creation that communicates meaningful messages and to achieve within six months what could ordinarily take two years.
Another apprentice, Ginika, who opted for Greenhouse Farming, said his choice was influenced by his family’s background in agriculture and his desire to introduce innovative farming practices in the South-East, while positively impacting other young people. Ericww, assigned to Photo Box Studio, said she sought to deepen her expertise in photography, particularly in drone piloting and studio shoots, with the aim of becoming a highly sought-after professional.
Other speakers at the conference included Mr. Chidi, who delivered a session on personal development, discipline, and effective communication. He encouraged the apprentices to ask relevant questions, remain teachable, and consistently add value wherever they are assigned. The Chief Executive Officer of Billion Crafts Limited, also Mr. Chidi, stressed that integrity is a form of wealth, noting that the credibility and consistency of the convener made the free mentorship initiative possible.
The final speaker, Mr. Nnamdi, advised participants to cultivate the habit of asking purposeful and intelligent questions, underscoring the importance of making positive contributions to any organisation they join.
The conference concluded with closing remarks by the convener, who expressed appreciation to the partner organisations and participants for their support and commitment, and urged the apprentices to give their best throughout the duration of the programme.
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