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By Moses Akaigwe 08072100049
In what stakeholders describe as the strongest indication so far that the automotive policy is still very much on course, the Federal Government has announced the appointment of the General Motors’ Senior Creative Designer, Jelani Aliyu, as the new Director-General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC.
A Nigerian based in the United States who also designed the awe-inspiring Chevrolet Volt, Aliyu replaces Engr. Aminu Jalal, whose tenure officially ends on May 12, 2017.
The approval of the Aliyu’s appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari is coming at a time when economic recession is taking a toll on the operations of the auto plants, thereby slowing down the implementation of the automotive policy which took effect in July, 2014.
Reacting to the news, many auto industry analysts hailed the appointment as “putting a round peg in a round hole,” even as some of the stakeholders cautiously welcomed the coming of the General Motors’ designer, opting instead to wait and see how he handles the reins.
“We hope he brings his experience and professionalism to bear. Looks more like perfect fit for the job. We look forward to his policy framework,” remarked Olawale Jimoh, a manager at Kia Motors Nigeria assembly plant in Isolo, Lagos.
To the Executive Director of the Nigerian Automotive Manufacturers Association (NAMA), Mr. Remi Olaofe, Aliyu’s appointment for now, is “a welcome development,” even though he said there was need to study the situation first before coming out with an elaborate statement.
The former Public Relations Manager of PAN Nigeria, Alh. Baba Yahaya Mohammed, hailed the coming of Aliyu whom he said the cap fits considering his vast experience in the industry, especially in an advanced country like the United States.
He is, however, worried that the so called “Nigerian factor” may be the new D-G’s biggest challenge. “It is an appointment well deserved. {But}, you will agree with me that the operating environment is not the same with the USA where talent is respected and encouraged,” Mohammed remarked.
A legal practitioner with keen interest in the industry, Okolocha Kenechukwu, agreed, saying “I hope the system will not just frustrate him”. Another auto industry watcher, Emeka Ulor, said: “Great move. I hope he won’t be frustrated like Barth Nnaji who we hailed the last time”.
A former expatriate General Manager at the Peugeot Kaduna plant said rather guardedly: “Let us wait until he takes fully his role in the office to know more what will be the future of our policy.”
Born in Kaduna in 1966, to Alhaji Aliya and Sharifiya Hauwa’u Aliyu, who both hail from Sokoto State, Jelani Aliyu attended Capital School, Sokoto between 1971 and 1978, and then proceeded to Federal Government College, Sokoto, where he graduated as ‘best technical drawing student.’
He was later offered admission to study Architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria, but he opted for a similar course at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic, Kebbi State from 1986 to 1988 – the institution that formally embedded in him the culture of automobile design.
While at the Polytechnic, Jelani Aliyu did in-depth research into home designs and construction, experimenting with materials and structures that could best be functional for buildings in the hot northern climate without necessarily using air conditioning system.
His effort earned him another accolade when upon graduation he was hired at the Ministry of Works, Sokoto, where he worked briefly.
An exceptionally curious, Aliyu soon moved in 1990 to Detroit, Michigan, USA, where he enrolled at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit, under a Sokoto Scholarship board sponsorship.
Having always wanted to study Automobile Design, Jelani Aliyu became enthusiastic in automotive design and as he once said: “The course was very practical and emphasis was put on creativity and the development of new designs to provide solutions.”
Upon graduation in 1994, he began his career with the design staff of General Motors, where he worked on the Buick Rendezvous and later became lead exterior designer of the Pontiac G6 and Astra, General Motors’ Opel Division and soon designed the Chevrolet Volt which was unveiled in 2007.
Meanwhile, a highly placed sources at NADDC head office in Abuja, informed Daily Sun Motoring that though Aliyu is not expected to assume duties until next, his predecessor, Engr. Jalal, whose tenure would be ending officially on May 12, after two terms of five years each, has decided to hand over to the most senior director tomorrow morning pending the arrival of the General Motors designer.
Disclosing that Jalal opted to leave immediately, “because there cannot be two substantive D-Gs at the same time”, our source said the out-going Director-General would be handing over to the Director in charge of Planning and Strategy, Mamudu Luqman, whom many had quietly speculated would be the next NADDC helmsman.
Those who had expected Luqman to succeed Jalal had felt that his strategic position in the council had helped him garner a lot of experience while playing a vital role in the implementation of the automotive policy.
But, it all fizzled out when President last Thursday approved Aliyu as the Director-General of the council, along with 22 other heads of Federal Government agencies.
The Director of Planning and Strategy will be holding the baton till Aliyu assumes duties.
