ANAMBRA STATE GOVERNMENT AND THE INNOSON OPPORTUNITY
By EMEKA EZEKWE
The landmark progress made by Innoson Motors should act as a catalyst and road map to kickstart and encourage industrialization in our dear state. It should attract government attention and support for entrepreneurship in Anambra state in particular and southeast in general.
Chief Innocent Chukwuma by some sheer entrepreneurial wizardry and innovative push has done what everyone thought was impossible before now. Like play, like play he established the first and only privately owned vehicle assembly plant indigenous to Nigeria in particular and Africa as a whole. Even the whole world have since taken notice of this incredible feat. CNN, Aljazeera, BBC, et al have all been to Nnewi to “confirm” if the rumored vehicle plant is a “reality.” Innoson deserves both state and institutional support.
Anambra State Government should be in the forefront of marketing the Innoson brand, this should be the new face of Anambra Technological Advancement, Innovation and Progress; Southeast Governors should also key into this technological advancement. But, as the igbos say “onye ana eduje ogu na ebu uzo.” The Anambra State Government should lead this marketing onslaught. All official vehicles should be Innoson. Infact, Obiano should include Chief Chukwuma in his entourage for all those his foreign-investors-seeking trips. Just as the Federal Government moves around with Dangote. We cannot blame others for low patronage when our government is guilty of same. Obiano could even commission Innoson to make a specialized security car for his use .
Innoson has put Anambra on the economic, political and social map of the world through a successful investment and employment of citizens. The job of every government is to provide needed social stability and security through employment generation; Innoson has done this.By helping keep Innoson in business, Anambra stands to gain a lot. Just like Tata did in India and eventually brought affordable cars and other household accessories to every household in India, Anambra can help her indigent citizens “afford” Innoson. I bet you that if Innoson was dangote, Kano State Civil Service and even the whole Northern Civil Service will all officially use Dangote Cars. This is the way development happens. As such, let’s not miss this opportunity.
Anambra should help Innoson sell it’s vehicles and should do so proudly. This is the original “nkea bu nke anyi” It should even pay Innoson “advert” fees to include an inscription “proudly made in Anambra “ on each vehicle made and sold by Innoson. By “sharing” in the Innoson success, an impression that Anambra is a business land of milk and honey would have been established beyond doubt. This is how it works in every serious economy that wants to progress. Nnewi merits an economic and industrial hub status. The Anambra State Government in particular and Southeast Governments in general should be interested in clusters like Nnewi, Aba, Onitsha, et al, through the provision of infrastructure.
Many years ago, President Clinton as US president flew to Japan to meet and beg the aging 89 year old owner of Sanyo electronics to reverse his company’s decision to close its factories in USA because of poor patronage and sales. The adamant Sanyo owner refused to bulge even after Clinton offered tax rebates and incentives. President Clinton, in a typical godfather mien then made an irresistible proposal,offering to help Sanyo sell its products all over America by getting Walmart (America biggest retail outlet then ) to display Sanyo products in all their outlets, a deal was sealed and 10,500 jobs was saved for the American economy……
Our problem in Nigeria appears to be the monthly Abuja oil money. Most governors don’t care whether businesses thrive in their state. Because government is run independent of employment generated taxes. The prices of Innoson cars will crash when it is deliberately “assisted” to remain in business. Southeast Governors should even buy Innoson vehicles and dash or donate out. Anambra should lead this charge by “donating “ Innoson vehicles to sister southeast states whenever the need arises on “humanitarian grounds.” All the “foreign aid” we hear about do not always ever come in “cash.” America gets it manufacturers to produce needed goods, pay them, tax them and then ship the goods to assisted countries,including weapons. That’s how American jobs are created , saved and maintained.
INNOSON is our heritage, the Pride of South-Easterners and the original “nkea bu nke anyi.” Let’s preserve our heritage!!!
Emeka Ezekwe
4/5/2019
