Some years ago, when some Nnewi traders in Lagos resolved to head back home and reestablish their motorcycle business, it looked like a mission impossible. Really, leaving the commercial nerve centre of the country at that time, with all its potentials, for a local community like Nnewi, was indeed a huge risk. However, after weighing the pros and cons of doing business in Eko, especially with the activities of the area boys, the traders made the move, which eventually paid off. Today, what started merely as a trading centre for motorcycle spare parts at Nkwo Nnewi Market has turned the town into an economic hub of the east, with companies and industries scattered all over the place. Notwithstanding the level of industrial activities taking place in Nnewi, commerce is still major. It is on record that the first indigenous car manufacturing plant in Nigeria (owned by Innoson Group) is located in Nnewi, while the first wholly made-in-Nigeria motorcycle was manufactured in the town by the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI). So, to a large extent, Nnewi holds the ace in technological advancement of the country. When approaching the commercial town from Nnobi axis, you will surely know that a commercial centre is just near by; the signs are everywhere. Being the home of motorcycle in Nigeria, which remains a major mode of transportation here, almost every home owns at least one bike. Unlike in other parts of the country where ridding a bike is more of men’s thing, in Nnewi, it is everybody’s affair; from women to children, elderly… everyone is involved. From left to right, there are economic activities going on at every corner. Welders, technicians, traders dealing mostly in automobile products, restaurants… there’s no place for idle minds. Though the town has grown in strength as regards industrial activities, Nkwo Nnewi Market still remains the centre of attraction. It is more like the exhibition ground for goods produced in the area. From large-scale manufacturers to small-scale entrepreneurs, who use charcoal to produce motorcycle break pads to big time industrialists, Nnewi has positioned itself as the Japan of Africa, as it is home to many major indigenous manufacturing companies. From Ibeto Group of Companies to Cutix Plc, Uru Industries Ltd, Omata Holdings Ltd, First Aluminum, Cento Group of Companies, Coscharis Group of Companies, Innoson Group of Companies, Tomy Tomy Group, Ngoo Bros, Ebunso Nig. Ltd, John White Industries, Ejiamatu Group of Companies, Chicason Group, Louis Carter Group… the list is endless. Interestingly, majority of these industrialists, especially those within the automobile cluster, were once traders. In fact, most of them, such as Innoson, Tummy Tummy Group, Coscharis actually started from Nkwo Nnewi where they sold motorcycle spare parts. Except for the likes of Cutix Plc, whcih has a background in engineering, a large number of these industrialists started from Nkwo Market. Having experienced first hand how technology boosted the Chinese economy, these men, who started out as importers and franchisee for major Chinese brands, have since migrated into production. Obviously, the achievements of their foreign partners might have spurred them to take a chance. Forget their grammar, which might not be as fluent as that of the Queen, but these men understand how to apply science and technology to satisfy need and earn good money. And with a vibrant Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, which sometimes provides the intellectual aspect of the ventures, things are look bright for them. According to history, the first Igbo man to own and drive a car was HRH Igwe Orizu I (Eze Ugbo Onya Mba) in 1912. And by 1940, Nnewi residents were at the center of an international trading network that dominated the supply of motor spare parts in Nigeria. The town subsequently became a center for commerce and industry, and has one of the largest automotive parts markets in Africa. Besides the big players, small and medium sized industries have also joined the venture, producing for both Nigerian market and for export. Since 1970, Nnewi have controlled approximately 80 to 90 percent of the motor-parts trade in Nigeria. This has made Nkwo Nnewi Market the major import and wholesale point for motor spare parts in Nigeria. The industrialists on their parts are adapting foreign technology for local needs, providing employment for thousands. “Nnewi is a success story, which Nigeria as a country, is yet to celebrate. Funny enough, majority of these people that championed this cause never saw the four walls of the university; most of them managed to finish secondary school. But today, they control the economy of this place. What that tells you is that an average Nnewi man in particular, an average Igbo in general, is naturally gifted,” Charles Muojike, an Nnewi native said.

Ok na

For Ugochukwu Egwuatu, a trader in
Nkwo Nnewi, lack of genuine support
from government, is slowing down
business in the area.
“We’ve not really seen serious impact
of the government over the years,
especially the federal government. I
thank God that Innoson has
succeeded in drawing their attention
to Nnewi, but beside producing the
first made in Nigeria car, Nnewi has
what it takes to lead industrial
revolution in Nigeria.”
He continued: “We have Ministry of
Science and Technology and money
is voted every year, what have they
achieved? Here in Nnewi, with no
government support, you can see the
result; our people are resilient. All we
need is conducive environment to
operate; power supply is still a major
challenge. Notwithstanding, go to
Nkwo Market, there’s nothing our
people don’t produce; traders come
from all over the country to buy
goods. We are seriously contributing
to the economy of this country.
Sometimes, I feel that due to what
happened during the civil war, the
rest of the country seem to be afraid
of empowering the Igbo man to
achieve its full potential,” he said.
After he was sworn in as the governor
of Anambra State, Chief Willie Obiano
made public his intention to take the
state beyond buying and selling and
launch it into a new economic phase.
To achieve this, the governor
marshaled what he described as Four
Pillars Of Development, which include
Aggressive Mechanized Agriculture,
Oil And Gas, Trade & Commerce, and
Industrialisation.
Already, Anambra Sate hosts a large
number of Industrial Clusters, but
many have raised concern on the
need to strengthen this advantage
with an appropriate policy framework
that will boost the indigenous
capacity in the sector. It is hoped that
the initiative will not only have a
direct impact on wealth creation in
the state, but will also bring down
rate of unemployment.
While the state is currently sealing
agreement with international partners
and investors to actualise its dream,
a nest has been created at the
Technology Incubation Centre Nnewi,
to train youths under the State Youth
Skills and Empowerment Scheme.
Already, the first 500 participants
drawn from the 21 LGAs of the state
are undergoing training at the centre,
which is always beehive of activities.
Though the Incubation Centre was
put in place by the federal
government as part of the efforts to
train young Nigerians in the area of
science and technology, the Anambra
State government, under the present
administration, has seen reasons to
take advantage of the facility to spark
industrial revolution. The programme
is designed in a way that the 500
youths would attend classes three
times a week for free, while the
government provides them with
feeding and transportation
allowance.
While the maximum period for the
training is three months, there are
some skills in the curriculum that
runs for just a month. For instance,
those in cosmetics, chemical and
allied, food and agro processing and
others don’t have to spend three
moths; most of them will be rounding
off soon. But for those into
fabrication, building technology,
foundry, auto spare parts and
leatherwork and so on, they have to
complete three months at the Centre.
To ensure the trainees are grounded
in their field of choice, a special
scheme was developed to perfectly
blend theoretical learning with
practical. While resident
entrepreneurs at the Centre serve as
resource persons for the trainees in
different fields, staff handle the
theoretical aspects. With standard
laboratories and workshops manned
by scientists and engineers, who are
professionals in those fields, the
trainees have all is required to excel.
Though, the current batch is made up
of mostly youths with secondary
school certificate, there are graduates
among them, who see the
empowerment programme as an
opportunity to have practical
knowledge of what they learnt in
school.
As it is, only a few of them wish to
take up paid employment; others
want to be entrepreneurs. Of course,
the success story of industrialists in
Nnewi is enough encouragement for
these young one to believe that, if the
Innososns and Ibetos of Nnewi can
make it as industrialists, then it is
possible.
While the Centre provides both
theoretical and practical training for
the participants, the manufacturing
firms around give them opportunity to
see real time production process. The
progarmme is designed in such as a
way that the trainees go for internship
with different firms in Nnewi. And
being a member of the Nnewi
Chamber of Commerce, getting
placement for the interns is no big
deal for the Incubation Center.
“You find that for you to operate in a
system, you have to be part of that
system. Having been member of the
Nnewi Chamber of Commerce, it’s
very easy to interact with the
industries. The main objective of the
excursion is to exposure the students
and we have categorised them into
various skills,” Mrs. Uche Chukwu,
the Center Manager hinted.
While those into chemical and allied
products go to Chikason Group, those
in catering and agro processing are
sent to Tummy Tummy Foods
factory. For those into fabrication and
auto parts, Innosson Motors is their
destination, while those into
electrical and building technology are
sent to Cutix Cable Plc. There’s also
provision for those in the fishery
section to visit a fish and snail farm
in Adazi community.
“Aside from what we teach them
here, the idea is to send them out to
see proper industrial setting and have
the opportunity to ask question. Most
of these industrialists started small,
so this is an opportunity for the
trainee to understand that you don’t
need billions to become an
entrepreneur,” one of the teaching
staff hinted.
Upon graduation, the youths will be
provided with seed money by the
state government to establish small-
scale businesses so as to become
self-reliant.
Providing insight into the state
government’s commitment towards
ensuring the viability and
sustainability of the empowerment
programme, the then Commissioner
for Science and Technology, Mr. Obi
Nwankwo, said the programme is
collaboration between Anambra State
and Federal Ministry of Science &
Technology.
“The federal government handles the
area of management and
administration, payment of the admin
staff, procurement of some of the
equipment and infrastructure
development, while Anambra built all
the facilities and structures at the
centre.”
According Nwankwo, who now heads
Ministry of Public Utilities, apart from
the participants getting necessary
skills, the government sees the
program as a key component of its
economic enablers.
“It will provide ready skilled work-
force to support and service the
state’s areas of needs in the governor
Obiano’s Four-Pillars of Agriculture,
Oil & Gas, Trade and Commerce and
Industrialisation. The 500 youths
participating in this phase one
programme were selected from a
database of over five thousand, who
were registered in the state Ministry
of Science and Technology to reflect
a cross-section of the state and the
applicant’s area of interest. So far, we
are impressed with the result we are
getting and the governor is already
thinking of having the second batch
on board,” he said.
http://www.ngrguardiannews.com/2015/08/nnewi-the-melting-pot-of-commerce-industry/

I feel the rest of of Nigeria is scared of letting the Igbos achieve there full potential.

sunnewsonline.com/new/why-industries-thrive-in-nnewi-nccima-president/

AnambraDota:
sunnewsonline.com/new/why-industries-thrive-in-nnewi-nccima-president/

Ebuka the jobless troll. How your ashawo wife and the baby factory pikin?

Very small market oh. But the things wey dey comot from there eh!

Dats what most igbos are yet to know, where u sight ur industry doesn't matter, as far as u employ aggressive and effective marketing strategies to mk sure ur product goes far, Dats all dat matters.

after1:


Ebuka the jobless troll. How your ashawo wife and the baby factory pikin?

They are fyn, how many people will disembowl today for ritualism and money making

greet Kayode the goatfucker for me

Innoson Motors!

AnambraDota:


They are fyn, how many people will disembowl today for ritualism and money making

greet Kayode the goatfucker for me

LoL... they love rape so much, they have even carried der rape madness to goat levels... Chai

AnambraDota:


They are fyn, how many people will disembowl today for ritualism and money making

greet Kayode the goatfucker for me

Nah, we should pray for your elder brother in Indonesia prison, and those in all Asia prison. Hope your mom have stop sleeping with little boys at Ariara market? Please tell her to stop disgracing your family with her ways

after1:


Nah, we should pray for your elder brother in Indonesia prison, and those in all Asia prison. Hope your mom have stop sleeping with little boys at Ariara market? Please tell her to stop disgracing your family with her ways

Your uncles doing times in the UK for terrorism and those in the US doing times for credit card frauds, internet scams and attempted rape of Obama's wife my regard to them