The Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) is partnering with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company (IVM) LTD to promote Made in Nigeria products.
Innoson, a notable brand in the country reputed in the production Made-in-Nigeria vehicles of all kinds at it’s manufacturing plant headquartered in Nnewi, Anambra State, South East, Nigeria.
Consequent upon this, NIPR, the foremost PR body empowered by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria and supervised by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation, to regulate the practice of public relations, reputation management and image making in the country, deemed it fit to honour Innoson with Diamond Prize for Excellence in Industrialization.
This award was announced at the Diamond Jubilee / 60th Anniversary Celebration of NIPR held in June 2024 at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja. But the Chairman of Innoson IVM Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, was absent that day, so NIPR, which don’t give awards in absentia, decided to present it to him at a later date.
On Tuesday 8th October 2024, after organising the 2nd Series of HRM, Obi Alfred Nnaemeka Achebe Annual Lecture at Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University Igbariam, NIPR under the leadership of Dr Ike Neliaku, President and Chairman of Council NIPR, alongside members of his Entourage, stormed the Headquarters of Innoson at No 95 Owerri Road, Umudim, Nnewi. Here, the NIPR national officers were taken round the production line of Innoson automobile manufacturing process.
Amazed by what he saw, Dr Ike Neliaku said the Institute under his watch, will partner with IVM to promote and excalate the image and reputation of the company to both national and global light.
He noted that this was why NIPR had set up Rebirth Nigeria Project to promote Made in Nigeria products and commended government agencies that are already patronising the products of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company.
“We have been celebrating Dangote Refinery in the last two months, but before Dangote, there was Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Company. We have everything required to make Nigeria great. This is the only made in Nigeria vehicles. Others assemble, this one is manufactured here.
“We were taken through the entire production line of Innoson from structure to chassis to consumation to painting and eventually saw when the vehicle came out and the crew felt it that it is real.
“Wherever we go, henceforth we have appointed ourselves as ambassadors for one of our Diamond Anniversary Prize Winners, Innoson. Now we have seen and believed why he won that award.”
While pleading with governments across all tiers (local government, state and federal) to patronise made in Nigeria products and services, Dr Neliaku however pleaded with those owing Innoson to pay as quickly as possible.
“You have to realise the implication of owing huge debts to Innoson. They are reining the economy of IVM workers. You can imagine if the workers are being owed because some governors and private individuals who collected vehicles on trust, refused to pay.”
Also speaking, Prof Emmanuel Dandaura, Vice President of NIPR and Chairman, Diamond Jubilee Committee of the NIPR, described Chief Innocent Chukwuma as a true Nigerian who has displayed greatest sense of patriotism in the country through establishement of IVM and asked local manufacturers to up their public relations practice by liveraging on facility tour to drive their marketing better.
On enabling law to protect local manufacturers, Hon Aliyu Wakili Boya, Chairman House of Representatives Committee on Police Institutions, assured that he will mobilize his colleagues to pass a bill at the Green Chambers of the National Assembly to mandate 30-40% of all the government procurements to be supplied locally in order to encourage local manufacturers.
He noted that this will equally mandate lawmakers to patronize the company and consume 30-40% of locally-made products to boost local production.
On his part, Dr Ahmad Sajo, Chairman Anti-corruption and Consumer Protection of NIPR, and former Commissioner for Information, Adamawa State, said with increased patronage, Innoson will increase production and improve on its production quality and quantity while putting an end to the dollarisation of naira.
“Unlike what we had before like Vehicle Assembling plant, this one is a Vehicle Manufacturing Plant. That is a big plus. Thus, IVM is not just the pride of Nigeria, but the pride of Africa.
“We hope and pray that government agencies and individuals will promote this laudable company. We equally pray that this company is protected by God Almighty so that we succeed in getting a vehicle manufacturing company in Nigeria that will begin to sale to the world.
Responding, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman Innoson IVM Group admitted that the key problem he had is that politicians, most governments and agencies dont patronise him, and those who patronise dont pay thereby incurring huge debts on the company.
He however applauded the Governor of Adamawa State, Ahmadu Umar Fintri for being his best customers in the country, adding that he patronise Made in Nigeria products in his state and asked other governors to emulate him.
Later, the NIPR National entourage retired to Chief Innocent Chukwuma’s home where he was given the NIPR Diamond Prize for Excellence in Industrialization.
According to the Chairman, Diamond Jubilee Award Committee, Prof Emmanuel Dandaura, “What we are doing is to show you as an icon to Nigerians. You won out of 130 Nigerians and companies in your category. And it went through two months of thorough screening before arriving at you. We call it a prize because it has a price tag (cheque to attached to it).”
Also, the State Chapter of NIPR led by Prof Angela Nwammuo gave him an award in recognition of his accomplishment in Enterprenuership and Service to Humanity, which was reserved for him during the chapter’s March 22nd Annual General Meeting.
Responding, the awardee Chief Innocent Chukwuma applauded the institute for these great awards, which he said, he has never received before in his life, despite having recieved so many wards including national and centinery awards.
Delta, Enugu and Imo states chapters of NIPR were duly represented at the event.###
