Be Inspired: The Nigerian Innovator Who has changed the Business Environment of the Automobile Industry

Nigeria’s economy is sliding into the state of comatose with the constant devaluation of naira and the lack of jobs and the increase in the prices of commodities. The teeming population of Nigeria is too much for the jobs available in Nigeria, and most Nigerians are not innovative and industrious—most Nigerians are not patriotic; Nigerians wait for the government to provide everything for them. Aside the problem with most Nigerians, the government has also failed in fostering a buoyant business environment that would attract investors and boost the number of willing investors.

Not minding these factors and others which seem to inhibit the growth of entrepreneurial action in Nigeria, some extraordinary Nigerians have hustled their way through the thick blanket of difficulties in Nigeria’s business environment. We have many of them, some are very successful, powerful and rich, one of them is Mr Innocent Chukwuma.

 Mr Innocent Chukwuma is from Nnewi, Anambra State. This is the same place that the Ojukwu and the Uba family hail from. He is one of the people whose success can be used to initiate the story with the topic “From Grass to Grace”. He started his business with the money handed over to him by his brother. He went into the selling of motorcycle spare parts before he was inspired because of the expensive motorcycle to go into importation of cheaper motorcycles.

From there, he established a plastic producing plant, because he found out that motorcycle market price will be cheaper if the plastic parts of these motorcycles are produced locally instead of all being imported. His plastic manufacturing industry plucked obscurity from his name and establishment; he became the foremost producer of Nigerian and as well as West African plastics.

He didn’t give up there; he went into automobile business. And it is because of his patriotism, drive and ingenuity that he sought for better ways to help Nigerian avoid importation of already used cars, so that Nigeria would not be seen as “dumping ground”. His company began to assemble cars here in Nigeria. His cars are durable, cost-effective and are built for the bumpy roads all over Nigeria. So, Nigerians who uses his cars are at the gaining side in all aspects. His cars are now sought after by the people and the government; they have become like hot cakes in Nigeria and Africa.

Over 5,000 people are surviving today because of Innocent Chukwuma. His business venture has improved the economy of Nigeria. His uncommon drive and zeal has inspired many young Nigerians. His ingenuity has made some Nigerians more patriotic than they were before. His trademark or rather the trademark of his company is Innoson.