By Moses Akaigwe
• GM Sales & Marketing, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co Ltd, Obum Osigwe (l), savouring the Silverbird Man of the Year award he received on behalf of Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, CON. With him is a friend of the company, Francis Ofeimun.
Exactly 15 days after The Sun bestowed it’s Man of the Year award on Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, CON, for his feat of being the first automaker in Nigeria to commence the manufacture of a range of vehicles that run on Compressed Natural Gas (CNG), the industrialist has earned another top award.
This time, the founder and Chairman of Innoson Group of Companies, owners of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd (IVM), Nnewi, received the Manufacturer of the Year prize at Silverbird Man of the Year Awards 2023 held at the same Eko Hotel & Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The organisers of both awards – The Sun Publishing Ltd and the Silverbird Group – said they took into consideration the fact that Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company Ltd, commenced the manufacture of sundry CNG-powered buses and other vehicles two years ahead of the removal of fuel subsidy by government on May 29, 2023.
The Sun and Silverbird noted that the foresight as well as the ability to assess and take risks exhibited by the IVM management in venturing into the production of CNG vehicles, were commendable.
The Silverbird Manufacturer of the Year award was presented to the General Manager, Sales & Marketing, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd, Nnewi, Mr. Obum Osigwe, who represented Dr. Chukwuma at the colourful ceremony held in Lagos on Sunday, March 3, 2024.
Speaking after receiving the award, Osigwe assured that the award would encourage Innoson to intensify it’s efforts towards manufacturing sundry top quality vehicles as needed by the auto market in Nigeria.
The Innoson GM said, “On behalf of my boss and Chairman Chief Dr Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma CON, I wholeheartedly accept this prestigious award of the Manufacturer of the Year. We are grateful for this honour and we would keep doing our best for our dear nation Nigeria.
“I would like to thank the Chairman of Silverbird Group, Senator Ben Murray-Bruce, the management and staff of the Silverbird Group for this honour. This award will spur us at Innoson Vehicles to do more and increase our effort in make vehicles Nigeria and the world will be proud of.
“Thank you for shedding light on the activities of manufacturers in Nigeria. We are immensely grateful because without you, Nigerians won’t know our toils and travails in the manufacturing sector. Thank you so much and God bless our nation Nigeria.”
The Innoson team to the Silverbird Award included Charles Chukwuma, Ben Okoye, Francis Nwose, Joseph Okeke, and a Sales Representative, Onyinye Okeke.
Dr. Chukwuma started the production of CNG vehicles about two years before subsidy on fuel was removed and CNG became the preferred and popular alternative to petrol and diesel,
As at May 29, 2023 when the Federal Government declared that subsidy had gone, Innoson had about 100 units of sundry CNG vehicles at its premises in Nnewi, Anambra State in addition to those already delivered to customers in some parts of the country.
Moreover, Innoson demonstrated long ago that it has the capacity and facility to convert vehicles currently running on petrol and diesel to CNG, even though the service is restricted to IVM customers.
The automaker has embarked on the construction of a much bigger multi-billion naira IVM plant annex covering about 300 plots of land is being constructed in Nnewi, and is likely to be commissioned in the first quarter of 2024 to concentrate on manufacturing autogas vehicles.
At the Silverbird Awards, key players in the nation’s business circle called on Nigerians to support local businesses to boost the country’s economy.
In his goodwill message, Chairman of Air Peace, Dr Allen Onyema, charged Nigerians to support local businesses to boost the country’s economy.
He stressed the importance of patronising and supporting local businesses as a means of accelerating the economic development of the country.
He said Nigerians have to ‘support their own’ to thrive instead of engaging in activities that frustrate such businesses.
In the same vein, Senator Ben Murray Bruce, CEO, Silverbird Group, called on Nigerians to support local businesses as the country cannot develop its economy sustainably without patronising and growing local businesses.
A video presentation at the event informed the guests that with just a startup capital of N20,000, young Innocent Chukwuma started his own business.
“What began with motorcycle spare parts retailing has four decades later grown into the leading proponent of made in Nigeria products and one of its biggest industrial success stories
“1995, Innoson Nigeria established a fully automated motorcycle assembly plant in Anambra State; becoming the first fully indigenous motorcycle maker in Nigeria.
In the same year, the group launched Innoson Technical and Industrial Limited, the biggest Plastic manufacturing plant in Nigeria with over 150 product lines.
in 2007 , Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing was birthed out of a desire to produce affordable, reliable, and durable vehicles that can compete with international car brands
“IVM Innoson has become a household name in Nigeria’s automobile industry, producing a range of innovative and robust vehicles that cater to the needs of the masses..”
According to the presentation, Innoson stands apart from other car manufacturers because of its focus on local content development. The company has invested heavily in research and development to design and manufacture vehicles that are tailored to Nigeria’s terrain, climate, and culture.
“Currently, Innoson employs over 7,000 people, most of them Nigerian youths, thereby providing jobs and income opportunities for the masses.
Innoson’s success has not gone unnoticed.
“Chukwuma was made honorary Life Vice president of the Nigeria Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture on 23rd of November, 2013. Innocent is also a grand fellow of Nigerian Institute of Strategic Management.
“He currently sits on the board of IVM Innoson Group of Companies and is a member of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria. He also serves as a Chancellor at Imo State University, Owerri.
Innocent Chukwuma who incidentally holds a Honorary Doctorate Degree in Business Administration from the University of Nigeria, has won many awards including: Auto Personality of the Year, Most Innovative Entrepreneur
Professor Barth Nnaji Prize for Technology at Igbo Awards, amongst many others.
For his years of excellent service to the nation, he was also conferred with the Order of the Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023; Innocent chukwuma is married to Ebere and they are blessed with lovely children.
“Innocent Chukwuma is the Silverbird recipient of the Manufacturer of the Year Award.”
One of the high points of the Silverbird Awards was the display of two outstanding Innoson vehicles at the entrance to the venue: IVM Caris sedan, and IVM De Imperial pick-up.
De Imperial pick-up is one of the newest additions to the fast growing Innoson Vehicle line-up.