Innoson Motors to partner FG on job creation Our Reporter November 15, 2013 Time:13.48 •Firm builds mechanic schools to battle youth unemployment By MICHAEL UBANESE It was the fulfilment of a long-nursed dream. Recently, Nigeria was launched into the comity of automobile-manufacturing countries when Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company Limited, a wholly indigenous firm owned by Nigerian businessman, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, rolled out brand new vehicles from its plant in Nnewi, Anambra State. Since then, Innoson vehicles, mostly Sports Utility Vehicles (known more in these climes as jeeps), trucks, buses, and others, have become a common feature on Nigerian roads. The company has also made inroads into the auto markets in other African countries. But the firm is planning even more. Chief executive of the company, Dr. Chuwkwuma said his firm would soon start building mechanic schools in a bid to help reduce youth unemployment in the country. At a recent encounter, Chief Chukwuma said his organisation was working hard to build technical schools where young Nigerians would be taught new advancements in technological innovations. “We plan to build mechanic schools to teach our young ones technological skills as mechanics and technicians that will enable them survive in our ever changing world of technological innovations. We will also continue to support both the federal and state governments in the realization of their efforts to create jobs for our unemployed youths,” Chief Chukwuma said. The industrialist said such schools became more necessary as Innoson vehicles were already becoming a major brand across Africa, noting that more technicians needed to be trained to enable the firm cope with the demands from its distributors and other customers. He said already, his company had started training mechanics and electricians that would be deployed to all parts of the country to maintain and service Innoson vehicles. In the meantime, a mechanic school was being built in the factory, he informed. “We are building a mechanic school in the factory so that we can train people – mechanics, electricians, and so on – and they will be everywhere. The idea is that anybody that we train will know about motor vehicles anywhere he is established. He can then establish his own company, or he can work in any company. That is why we are building these schools to train people. After the training, the young ones can stay on their own and get themselves gainfully employed and even become employers of labour,” he stated. Chief Chukwuma, who said he had always dreamt of seeing every Nigerian driving a brand new car, expressed gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan for his administration’s support for local businesses. He said his company was working hard to meet up with demands from customers. “When we started, our vision was to cover the entire African continent, and we remain committed to that vision. Presently, our manufacturing plant at Nnewi is built to service the entire African continent, and gladly enough we have been meeting up with market demands. Our strategy was to plan futuristically, knowing that huge orders would come, and as it stands today, we are able to meet up with the huge demands. We have the manpower and modern technology to cope with expected challenges. Today we manufacture trucks, SUV’s or what most people call jeeps. We also have buses, refuse disposal vehicles, pick-up vans and many others. It’s an achievement based on experience and knowledge,” he said. He also expressed delight over the plans by Nissan, a multinational auto manufacturing company, to partner with his firm to manufacture vehicles in the country. He said his company was ready to go into any cooperation that would boost the nation’s economy, and lead to increased productivity and provision of jobs for the youths. “Exploratory talks are ongoing, and at the appropriate time, the cat will be let out of the bag,” he assured. Chief Chukwuma also commended President Jonathan for declaring that his administration would protect local industries from foreign domination, asserting that the government meant well for the country. “We have a president that is delivering on his promises, one after the other. His support for local industries is phenomenal and unprecedented. Take for example the improvement in power supply and access to loan facilities, and even the transformation going on in other sectors. This is something we, as industrialists, are grateful about. And as a company, we can only complement such good gesture by supporting government in whichever way we can.” He said the spare parts for Innoson vehicles were available everywhere, even as he described the products as very durable. “Our vehicles parts go with our vehicles wherever we supply Innoson brands. It’s a deliberate policy by us to ensure that users don’t run out of stock in terms of servicing their vehicles. Of course you know that brand new vehicles usually require very minimal change of spare parts, but it is standard practice worldwide to support your customers with maintenance, and to us this is a serious obligation.” The industrialist also has good words about the administration of President Jonathan as regards the power situation in the country. Hear him: “When we started this factory, the power output was about 20 per cent, but today, we are having about 70 to 80 per cent. So, there is a lot of improvement with this government. With this development, our industry will develop more. When we started, we were getting just about 20 per cent from the national grid, but now, there is a remarkable improvement. We are so happy with the present government and what they are doing, especially in the area of power. https://facebook/TheMotherNews
Posted on: Fri, 15 Nov 2013 12:49:15 +0000
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