All over the world. countries are usually identified or associated with brand names of the products they manufacture. This practice has been long established in most industrialized countries, and many examples abound. For instance, Germany is synonymous with Mercedes, Volkswagen. BMW and other hardware like Caterpillar. United States of America is notable as the manufacturer of Ford, Chevrolet and airplanes (Boeing). United Kingdom is known with Rolls Royce. Sweden has Volvo as its own brand, while Peugeot is the brand associated with France.

Apart from automobiles, there are numerous articles of trade or products that are promoted as brands for different countries. It is worthy of note that these brands are not essentially official products of the various countries, but the mere fact that they are manufactured in those countries, automatically the state provides all the necessary support for the product to thrive within and outside the country. In fact, as part of their strategic economic policy, commercial attaches of various countries in foreign embassies are mandated to use their paraphnelia of office to promote products manufactured in their home countries.

Therefore, in the spirit of the “change” agenda of President Muhammed Buhari’s administration, there is the need for the incoming ministers, mostly in trade and investment, industry and foreign affairs, to design a co-ordinated blueprint that will enable their various ministries promote indigenous brands like INNOSON vehicles abroad.

To do this, it is important that all necessary incentives are provided for the company to grow to international brands like Ford, Mercedes, Volvo and Peugeot. We must realize that INNOSON has made Nigeria proud as the first indigenous automobile manufacturer with vehicles that are being exported abroad presently. As a nation, we can indeed utilize the INNOSON brand of vehicles to dominate the West African sub region and this comes with other multiplier effects.

There is no gainsaying that trade has become a tool in diplomacy. This is even a historical fact if we remember the roles UAC and other multi-national companies played in the years before and after independence. It can therefore be said that the benefits derivable from such partnership between state and her indigenous companies like INNOSON are innumerable. While the company will repatriate foreign exchange to the country from its sales abroad, the image of the country will also be boosted as other countries will easily give credit to the country where the products originated from. Also, government and the people will reap from the numerous job opportunities that will result from the productive activities of INNOSON.

The need to urgently set machinery in motion towards realizing this objective of adopting INNOSON as Nigeria’s official auto brand cannot be over emphasized. With our dwindling oil fortunes and the federal government’s avowed commitment to the diversification of the nation’s economy, one sector that ought to be supported fully, apart from mining and agriculture is the automotive industry.

Apart from the direct jobs this sector is capable of creating for our teeming youths, the multiplier effects such as the supply of spare parts, rubber, plastics and other ancillary industries will greatly impact on the nation’s economy positively.

Additionally, by kick-starting and giving full support to companies like INNOSON, Nigeria will position herself as an industrial hub in West Africa, and the entire African continent as a whole. It is possible and all that is required is a strong political will to achieve it. Gladly, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration has set the ball rolling by undertaking to give all the necessary incentives towards promoting the non-oil sectors of the economy. There is no doubt that our over reliance on oil as a major source of revenue has retarded our progress, and put the nation’s economy at risk, especially in the light of current global oil glut. The good news, however, is that as a nation, we have companies like INNOSON that have over the years invested billions of dollars in the nation despite obvious challenges such as an epileptic power supply and lack of adequate infrastructure. This approach goes to show that such investors have abiding faith in the growth and development of the nation. It must be acknowledged that the only way to sustain investors confidence in our economy is for government at all levels to provide the enabling environment and necessary incentives for companies such as INNOSON. With the huge number of unemployed graduates in the country, only a boisterous private sector can help government curb the scourge of unemployment.

If we use INNOSON which has employed over 15,000 Nigerians as a barometer to gauge how well the private sector can help the growth of the country’s economy, we will see that government’s support will lead to an expansion of the manufacturing capabilities of the company.Therefore, as the new ministers settle in, it is expected that they will collectively help to fastrack the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari to lift Nigeria from the abyss of unemployment, hunger and want by supporting indigenous motor companies like INNOSON in their industrialization drive.

It is gratifying that INNOSON has already expanded the frontiers of its operations into other West African countries, and the only way this can be sustained is through government patronage. In fact, a policy should be enacted to make it mandatory for all government ministries, departments and agencies to buy only made in Nigeria vehicles, such as INNOSON. Once this is done, it will serve as an elixir for them to redouble their efforts at factory expansion, and this no doubt comes with more openings for job opportunities. It must be clearly stated that government on its own cannot absorb the army of unemployed youths in Nigeria, but once a synergy is established with the private sector by providing unwavering support to such indigenous companies like INNOSON, then the perennial problem of unemployment will be adequately addressed.

•Enekwechi , an Abuja based public affairs analyst writes via Kwechis19@yahoo.com

One n Only

If the technical know-how at Innoson is not supplied by nigerians but by expatriates, I tell you we don't have a brand yet.

ikubch:
If the technical know-how at Innoson is not supplied by nigerians but by expatriates, I tell you we don't have a brand yet.

We do have the technical know-how bro. Am only concerned bout the lack of confidence exhibited by most Nigerians. Visit snake island Lagos and see the engineering marvels tradesmen put up. DSOs and platforms. I can't stress more but we have the know-how.

By Nigerian standard, the first mistake Innoson made was citing his plant in Nnewi and not Lagos or Kaduna. Tribalism especially hatred for ndigbo won't allow the federal govt to do what the Op is suggesting. If IVM were owned by Dangote and cited in Lagos or kaduna, then it would have been possible.

pacino26:


We do have the technical know-how bro. Am only concerned bout the lack of confidence exhibited by most Nigerians. Visit snake island Lagos and see the engineering marvels tradesmen put up. DSOs and platforms. I can't stress more but we have the know-how.

Our technology is not pooled, even america had to borrow enrico fermi from italy to build atomic bomb in 1943
We are not there yet but I share your optimism.
Look, do we have academic personnel involved in innoson project in order to continually solve emerging problems in the production. Does iNnoson source materials locally or imported. Even ordinary calibration and instrumentation is no childs play not to talk of durability. Toyota do recall vehicles but I believe all innoson output will all worth total recall if put to international standard and tests

the zoo is not ready for real development yet.

I think Innoson also needs a better advertising strategy. We need to see more of his products (not just cars) in other parts of the country. We also need to know if these products (especially the cars) have gone through all the tests they are supposed to undergo.
I also think the FG should start using his cars if they pass all the required tests.

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If Nigeria is really serious about curbing capital flight and improving exports this is one sector that should be aggressively supported.

It is finished products that is the main grower of economies not just raw materials which will be refined and then re-exported to Nigeria at a loss to us.

Automobiles also is a major technology transfer industry that can spurn other allied industries.

That is how the likes of Hyundai, Kia, Tata, Mahindra have transformed the Korean and Indian economies.