OBIANO, IDRIS, COMMISSION INNOSON VEHICLE AUTOMATED PLANT (PHOTOS)

By Ebubechukwu Brown

The Executive Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency, Chief Willie Obiano, Friday, 26th October, 2018, officially commissioned the the first automated section of the Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Plant in Nnewi which is meant to increase the capacity of the company from an annual production of 10,000 to 60,000 units of vehicles.

Innoson vehicle manufacturing (IVM), according to the Managing Director, Mr. Nnamdi Onusologu, is the first wholly indigenous and the leading vehicle manufacturing company in Nigeria with 1800 workforce.

He said that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing was conceived to produce truly Made-in-Nigeria vehicles, whereby a minimum of 60% of the content is made locally and will provide employment for a lot of Nigerians.

In his address, the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd, Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma (OFR), appreciated the support he received from the Nigerian Government, especially under the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari.

He said, “Today, we are unveiling our first automated production line section. This section can weld the entire body of a vehicle in four minutes as against six hours when it’s done manually.

He also said that the new line will increase the capacity of the company from 10,000 to 60,000 annual production unit, which, according to him, will provide more jobs to the teeming population.

Speaking about the 2019 Model of IVM Granite, he said, “This Pick-up is built for our roads and also in line with the latest generation of international brand of high end pickup”.

Speaking after the commissioning of the automated plant, the Governor of Anambra State, His Excellency Chief Willie Obiano, who was represented by his deputy, Dr. Nkem Okeke, commended Chief Innocent Chukwuma for his zeal in investing in Nigeria, despite the challenging economic realities.

He, therefore, urged both the Federal and State governments, with others institutions and corporations to patronise the Innoson vehicles in order to grow the Nigerian economy.

Unveiling the Innoson IVM Granite, 2019 edition, the Inspector General of Police, Mr. Ibrahim Idris, represented by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Mr. Agboola Oshodi-Glover, commended Chief Innocent Chukwuma for his continued confidence in the Nigeria economy.

He promised to ensure that the partnership between the Nigeria Police Force and Innoson Vehicle is consolidated upon.

Speaking on behalf of the traditional rulers present, Igwe Emmanuel Nnabuife of Isseke community, commended the giant strides of Innocent Chukwuma, and urged Innoson’s “detractors” to stop “the unnecessary detractions in order to avoid the collapse of the industry”.

In his vote of thanks, the member representing Nnewi North, Nnewi South and Ekwusigo Federal Constituency in the Federal House of Representative, Hon. Engr. Chris Azubuogu, eulogized Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma for setting the pace in manufacturing of Vehicles in Nigeria. He announced the plans of the federal government to build 5000MW Power Plant for the Industrial Clusters in Nnewi; and another 5000MW Power Plant for Nkwo Nnewi Market and Nnamdi Azikiwe Teaching Hospital.

Kaffy in Nnewi, Tours IVM Factory (Photos)

Others dignitaries, who attended the ceremony include Commissioner of Police of Imo State, Mr. Dasuki Galafinchi; Enugu State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Danmallam Mohammed; Delta State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Muhammad Mustafa; Igwe Dr. K.O Orizu III of Nnewi; former governor of Anambra State, Her Excellency, Dame Virginia Etiaba; Transitional Chairman of Nnewi North Local Government, Hon. Engr. Chukwudi Orizu; chairman of Nnewi Board of Trustee, Senator Onyeabo Obi; President-General of Nzuko-Ora Nnewi, Hon. Udemezu; Obi Afam Obi of Uruagu; Obi Bennett Okafor of Umudim; Obi George Onyekaba of Nnewichi and many other traditional rulers.