Abstract: Considering the prevailing socio-economic situations and increasing unemployment in Nigeria, the demand for apprenticeship scheme and small-scale business would rise. Thus the thrust of this study is apprenticeship scheme and small-scale business in Nigeria using Lagos state as study area. The study was situated within the ambit of Marxist Labour Surplus Theory and Weber�s Social Action. A multi-stage method involving stratified and simple random sampling techniques was adopted and data were sourced through questionnaire and in-depth interviews administered to 96 Apprentices and 24 Masters in Badagry and Lagos Island areas of Lagos State. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics. The findings showed that both the Apprentices and their masters varied in terms of their socio-demographic characteristics. Further the findings showed that the amount of capital available to start a business would be a determinant of apprenticeship willingness to create self-employment and that an alternative avenue for employment and income would not be preferred to apprenticeship in a trade that holds economic promise. Moreover, the data showed that the survival of small-scale business in Nigeria would depend on apprenticeship skills and available facilities. Consequently, the study recommended that Nigeria�s immediate steps should centre on not only making funds available, accessible and affordable, but also putting the necessary infrastructure on ground and creating an enabling environment for the operation of small-scale businesses.