By Theodore Opara

THE Federal Government has rekindled hope in the nation’s automotive industry with the appointment of Nigerian born General Motors’ senior creative designer, Jelani Aliyu, as the new Director General, National Automotive Design and Development Council, NADDC.

Aliyu, who also designed the awe-inspiring Chevrolet Volt, replaces Engr. Aminu Jalal, a former university lecturer who has been at the helm of affairs at the NADDC since the Federal Government started the new auto policy.

•Jelani Aliyu Nigerian-born GM Senior Creative Designer appointed DG of NADDC by President Buhari

The new policy attracted automotive giants from across the world, including Toyota, Nissan, Volkswagen, Kia, Hyundai, Ford, to mention but a few. But the Federal Government’s appointment of Mr. Aliyu, who has practical knowledge of the auto industry has ignited stakeholders’ confidence in the Nigerian auto industry. It is believed that the move by the Federal Government has shown its readiness to the nation’s automotive industry to the next level.

The newly appointed DG, Jelani Aliyu was born in Kaduna in 1966 to Alhaji Aliya and Sharifiya Hauwa’u Aliyu who both hail from Sokoto State. He attended Capital School, Sokoto between 1971 and 1978, and then proceeded to Federal Government College, Sokoto, where he graduated with honours as ‘best technical drawing student.’

He was later offered admission to study architecture at the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria but declined the offer for a similar course at the Birnin Kebbi Polytechnic, Kebbi State from 1986 to 1988 the institution that formally embedded in Jelani 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 under a Sokoto Scholarship board sponsorship.

Having always wanted to study Automobile Design, Jelani Aliyu became enthusiastic.  He says: “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.

Married with three kids, Jelani was recently quoted as saying “I think with the new automotive policy, with the support the government is giving to the industry, it has begun to create the momentum needed. We just need to continue pushing it through the next stages, especially in terms of enabling a Nigerian vehicle that is conceptualised, designed and developed by Nigerians for Nigerians in Nigeria.

“When I say Nigerian vehicle, I don’t necessarily mean the whole thing, but a vehicle designed specifically for the Nigerian populace. A vehicle in tune with the history, culture, environment and economic structure of the people, and I think we are heading there.”