BY CHUKWUDI ENEKWECHI

BEFORE our very eyes, history is being made with the emerging industrial revolution in the country. While some pessimists are still looking in the future for Nigeria’s version of industrial revolution, most discerning and visionary minds know that with the first made-in-Nigeria vehicles by Innoson Group already on our roads, the stage is set for the expected sudden leap in industrial activities.

Gladly, we have in place a visionary President who understands that laying a solid foundation for Nigeria’s industrial take off is a sine qua non for the nation’s development. For the first time in our history, we have a government that lays emphasis on encouraging local industries to grow to their fullest potentials.

For example, with the deliberate policy of the Dr Goodluck Jonathan administration to patronise locally made vehicles like Innoson, in preference to foreign made vehicles will no doubt spur many other companies to look inwards by setting up their plants in Nigeria. It is unimaginable the level of relief this singular move will bring to the already saturated unemployment arena. It is noteworthy that developed economies like USA, Japan, South Korea, China and Germany, among others, boast of having majority of their citizens employed in the automobile industry.

Back  home, with the emergence of Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Plant at Nnewi, Anambra State, many qualified graduates and non-graduates alike are today gainfully employed by the company. Additionally, by the singular innovation of the Innoson Group of manufacturing vehicles locally, many import-  dependent motor companies are now making desperate moves to set up their plants in Nigeria, and this move would greatly help to reduce the number of unemployed youths in the country.

The move has the potential to save hard earned foreign currency, as this would now be channelled towards growing our Gross Domestic Product as well as strengthen the Naira. Government on its part has been lending the necessary support by initiating a National Automotive Policy, which seeks to redirect our attention to manufacturing made-in-Nigeria vehicles. With the recent launch of the second phase of Nigeria’s industrial revolution plan by President Jonathan, Nigeria is set to reap abundant benefits of the multi-dimensional impact these policies will have on the nation’s economy.

It is, therefore, a thing of joy that the INNOSON Vehicles Manufacturing firm took the first initiative to do the “impossible” – manufacturing Nigeria’s first vehicles ranging from cars, trucks, SUVs, compactors, buses and other brands.

Imagine for a moment where we have two vehicles manufacturing plants like Innoson in each of the six geo-political zones of the country, and the great boost it will bring to the nation’s economy. It is acknowledged worldwide that the private sector plays the role of growing the economy while the government puts in place the relevant policies to drive and support them, as we have in the National Automotive Policy.

The Jonathan administration is arguably the first to envision the limitless potentials available in the automotive sector, and they have rightly positioned it to play a major role in the industrial revolution of the country. There is no arguing the fact that for Nigeria to develop to the level of Asia Tigers, more emphasis needs to be paid to other sectors, other than oil. For instance, every state or region ought to concentrate in areas that they have comparative advantage such as agriculture in the North, Cocoa in the West, Palm produce and industrial knowledge in the East. There is no doubt that if these areas are adequately tapped, Nigeria’s growth and development will be astronomical.

It is, therefore, worthy of commendation that Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing Company has taken the bold step to lead in setting up the first indigenous vehicles manufacturing plant in Nigeria. All hands must be on deck to support their efforts, by patronising their products which gladly have been tested and certified as more durable and qualitative than the imported vehicles.

Additionally, the patriotic act of Mr. President in privatising the power sector will no doubt result in an increase in the nation’s productive capacity. What is however required is for the government to maintain a consistent policy direction for the overall development of the nation.