By Umani Uwemedimo

"We stand ready and committed to provide jobs for the people of Akwa Ibom State. The site will represent first chapter in the book of industrialization we have opened today. Already, we have acquired 20 hectares of land for the Automobile Assembling Plant, which is one of the fruits of the Foreign Direct Investment."- Governor Udom Emmanuel said during the groundbreaking ceremony of the Automobile Assembling Plant on July 13, 2015.

It's without doubt that an Automobile Industry is one that creates great impacts in the global market, and as a matter of fact, it controls not less than 45% of the world's economy. Its growth has caused an economic revolution across the globe, for example; in America, Japan, Israel, Germany and other European countries where manufacturing and automobile assembling are done. This is why the governor of Akwa Ibom State, Mr. Udom Emmanuel deployed his synergy into ensuring there's one of its kind in his State.

In one of my articles about the unprecedented achievements of Akwa Ibom State Governor, Mr. Udom Emmanuel, I opined that the governor is one person who creates great things from virtually nothing. The story of the Automobile Assembling Plant is one landmark achievement that can never be ignored whenever global revolution is emphasized.

From hitherto, a core Civil Service State, Governor Emmanuel has expanded the economy of the State by introducing series of innovations toward achieving his industrial revolutionary goal. While these innovations have yielded great results in his industrialization revolutionary goal, Mr. Emmanuel has tuned Akwa Ibom to an investment destination.

Barely five years back, the Akwa Ibom State governor, His Excellency, Mr. Udom Emmanuel had maintained that his priority is to see the economy of the State and Nigeria at large being diversified. This dream has become a reality in Akwa Ibom State. The states has drifted from depending on the crude oil market, to exploring other components of the global market. Many industries have been brought to bear within this short while. One of these industries is the Automobile Assembling Plant located in Itu Local Government Area of the State.

The Automobile Assembling Plant whose groundbreaking ceremony was done by the governor of the State in July, 13th 2015, is on record as the first ground breaking ceremony done by the him shortly after his inauguration into office then. The project had created great doubts in the minds of the people within and outside the shores of the State. Whenever it was mentioned, people felt terribly disappointed prior to its physical state as at then.

After few years, many people were forced into believing that the conceived Automobile Plant by the governor was a scam. This they didn't do because they hated the governor nor disbelieved in his industrialization drive, but it was simply because expectations were high and when it turned out as if they were basking in the euphoria of unattainability, they decided to give up, not knowing that the governor and the investors were still having sleepless nights, working relentlessly to ensure that the common dreams and hopes of the people are not thwarted.

So many people were ignorant of the fact that such a mega project involves a lot of careful planning and documentations both at the State and National level before any action is taken. They had expected everything to be up and running just like the magics they see in Hollywood, Nollywood or Bollywood movies. They didn't know that behind the forest they saw at Ikot Ukap in Itu LGA, these people were working the work in silence and they had already pictured the future of the factory.

Today, everything has been put in place for the commencement of its full operations. This is a clear testimony that governor Udom Emmanuel is a visionary leader who always create things from virtually nothing. Anyone who follows him should be rest assured that he is on the right track, and can never be disappointed.

The Automobile Assembling Plant, is set for operations in Akwa Ibom State with every required equipment already on ground. With an ultra-modern edifice with world class infrastructural facilities, the investors of the factory has proven to Akwa Ibom people that indeed, they meant business when they came to inform us in 2015 of their intention to establish their first ever plant in Africa. There have also proven that the effort of governor Udom Emmanuel towards the birth and effective operations of the factory is not in vain.

The Plant is the first Automobile Manufacturing/Assembling Plant in the Niger Delta region and will be one of the biggest in Nigeria. The target is to become the best not just in Nigeria, but also in Africa in the next couple of years, and with everything that has been put in place, the dream will sure become a reality.

As part of the activities to start full operations without delay, the factory as at last week had forwarded a letter to the State Government for the activation of a part of the pact entered between the government and the Investors. This was that a certain number of Akwa Ibomites will be selected based on their skills, and sent to Israel for the perfection of these skills of theirs. This training which will last for months will instill on them the necessary skills and experience required to properly assemble vehicles of different kinds. The training in Israel will be done in batches.

Accordingly, these lucky persons who are all specialists in diverse skills connected to automobile, like, upholstery, mechanical, electrical, panel bitting, painting, etcetera etcetera, will be sent to Israel for training and will be the first to be employed in the mega Automobile Assembling Plant. This will be done even before the official commissioning of the factory by the government.

At the completion of their training, they'll return to the State to also practice what they learnt over there, and to also convey same knowledge on other employees who'll be working with them in the factory. They'll assemble the first set of vehicles at the factory.

The factory whose containers arrived Nigeria from Israel during the total lockdown in the world due to the corona virus pandemic is a clear testimony that indeed, ONLY GOD is involved in everything the governor does.

In reality, the Plant will not only boost the economy of the State, it'll create thousands of direct and indirect jobs. By creating these jobs, it therefore implies that the unemployment rate of the State will be greatly reduced.

The Automobile Assembling Plant will create massive employment for graduates and non-graduates. It'll also create an avenue for food vendors to explore, as well as other business minded persons.

With this Plant located in Akwa Ibom , more Transportation Companies are expected into the State. Commercial drivers and Companies who overtime have been found wanting in getting sound vehicles will now have a cause to boost their businesses and operations with sound and brand new vehicles at affordable rates.

The Automobile Assembling Plant in Akwa Ibom State is here to stay, and it has governor Udom Emmanuel's signet imprinted on it. In years to come, whenever Automobile revolution in Africa is recounted, Mr. Udom Emmanuel's name will not be left unmentioned.

Culled from the Ink Newspapers

Lovely

As good as this initiative is, you guys are not asking yourself the honest question which will enable you do a thorough visibility study before embarking on a product that you have no market for.

Have you ever asked yourself; Can my people afford the price of a new car?

How many can we sell in a year to get breakeven?

Can my government alone absorb 80% production of the coy every year? Which is absolutely impossible!

We need car manufacturing companies who source for local materials to put into production process in Nigeria and not assembling plants.