By Ezeakukwu Emmanuel Nsoedo
A delegation from the Academic Staff Union of Research Institutions paid a courtesy call to Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma CON (Ifediaso Nnewi, Okpuzu Ndigbo) at the Nnewi manufacturing plant of Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM) Ltd.
Recently, the federal government undertook a drastic position regarding the country’s energy policy. The incumbent government regime had decided to allow the premium motor spirit (PMS) consumed in the country to be determined by the market forces. In effect, they removed the subsidies attached to the PMS products.
In effect, the government will no longer keep the PMS at the artificially low cost the masses have relied on. The prices at the filling stations across the country shot up by more than 100 percent, impacting all sectors of the economy. The workers felt the worst impact of the increment as public transport reciprocated with the same margin as at the filling stations.
The research delegates from their organizations were there to assess the manufacturing operations of IVM and desire an opportunity for an effective collaborative relationship with Innoson Motors as a way to impart skills to the youth, as well as reduce unemployment.
The session they enjoyed with the chairman of IVM gravitated to the topic of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) for vehicular operations. The government and most experts believe CNG to be the cheapest alternative to PMS-driven vehicles. The remarkable thing the researchers discovered was that Innoson Vehicles had developed the platform for the CNG within the manufacturing plant. IVM has already rolled out vehicles that drive on CNG technology long before the removal of custody.
While the Innoson group agreed to train many workers as part of the collaborations, the CEO insisted that training would be contingent upon actual vehicle order so the students could learn by doing. He assured them that they could set up in any part of the country that ordered those CNG-operated vehicles. Chief Innocent Chukwuma also introduced two technicians, amongst those trained overseas to manage the CNG department to take them through the factories.
Innoson Group also manufactures electric vehicles, which experts believe would help reduce transportation costs. The battery technology component was discussed at length, and the Innoson group were already set to adapt to the local raw materials to manufacture and create more job opportunities.
The delegation took a tour of the facilities and checked out the CNG and electric-operated vehicles produced by the Innosn group. The delegates expressed their gratitude and pledged to be back to practicalize the partnership.
Members of the delegation are Dr. Charles Odim, Forensic pathology; Engr Joseph Odoh, Chairman UNICEM; Engr Ihedoha Onyedikachi, Assist Engineer PRODA; Engr Cletus Amaraegbu, Board Member MBTI; Engr Dr. Mike Amaonye, Inventor/Researcher; Chief Kevin Nwabugwu, Center Mgr TIC Nnewi; and Victor Ndubuaku, ASURI Rep.