The Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) company, Nigeria’s only indigenous auto-manufacturer, has agreed to take-up all automobile research and development results at the National Agency for Science & Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and convert them to automobile products for the markets, including getting some of them ready for exports.
Before now, NASENI had designed and produced prototypes of first made-in-Nigeria motorcycle since 2013. Also, NASENI successfully designed and produced First Made-in-Nigeria tricycle (Keke). The Agency in addition had designed and produced prototype of Jet Engine to manufacture first made-in-Nigeria aircraft, amongst other successfully designed automobile spare parts.
All these designs and prototypes however have been lying on the shelves because Nigeria entrepreneurs were not interested in taking them further to full manufactured products and commercialisation, thereby creating local jobs and wealth at home.
The jinx was however broken on Wednesday, as the federal government signed the take-off agreements with Innoson Motors to complete the auto designs up to finished products.
President of NASENI, Professor Haruna, who signed the agreement on behalf of the federal government said, “Today is the happiest day for me as chief executive of NASENI because the dreams of President Muhammadu Buhari and those of the founding fathers are coming to pass which was to see that NASENI’s designs and technologies are transferable to the private sector and industry”.
Haruna said “the partnership between Innoson Motors and NASENI started since 2013 when NASENI produced and launched its First Made in Nigeria Motorcycle” (NASENI M1), but I am happier today that the deal to work together has been sealed.”
According to Haruna, with the commencement of the implementation of the agreements, NASENI and Innoson Motors will no doubt move Nigeria forward.
In his response, the CEO of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Ltd, Chief Innocent Chukwuma said NASENI had been doing a lot of things in the areas of research and development, but “today we have commenced a partnership that will live forever.”
