Pule
March 2nd, 2006, 11:19 AM
Good news for Africa, even though I think that the government of Nigeria should have supported this initiative. Big ups to President Mbeki for his support of the project.
I got this from www.nairaland.com I hoep the Nigerian guys who are full active in the nairaland forum can come join us here.
Why don't the Nigerian Government support this beutiful initiative?
But this is defintely good for Africa.
February 8th, 2006
S/Africa to acquire rights to produce Nigerian car
E-MAIL THIS PRINT THIS
South Africa is set to acquire the rights from an automobile engineer to mass produce Nigeria's first car, the Z600, in that country.
Christian NWOKOCHA, Owerri
South African President Thabo Mbeki has instructed his deputy-president to finalise details of the agreement with the car manufacturer with a view to producing the vehicle in South Africa.
Ezekiel Izogu, managing director of Izogu Motors Limited managing director disclosed this in an exclusive interview with BUSINESSDAY.
Izogu said the car was first launched in Owerri in 1997 by then Chief of General Staff Oladipo Diya during the regime of former Head of State Sani Abacha.
But the success story really began last year when Izogu was invited by South Africa to deliver a lecture on science and technology. Izogu said: "The South African Government encouraged me more than my own country. Mbeki sent his deputy-president to receive me and told me how ready they were to encourage me and to provide what I wanted.
"However, they said I must take the car to South Africa to let it be manufactured in their country. If they are putting up the money it is only fair that the car is made in their country".
He added that the board of directors at Izogu Motors was in the process of taking the car to South Africa, but he stressed that the Z600 would "lose its Nigerian identity".
For the car to be truly Nigerian, he said, the engine, chassis and body would have to be made in this country.
He claimed that "ethnic politics killed this product in Nigeria". "After the car's launch the Federal Government formed a high-powered team of scientists to probe my work. This team was led by the then Science and Technology Minister, Sam Momoh.
The team was drawn from research institutions in Nigeria. "They spent three days in Owerri investigating my job. Questions were asked and I answered them.
"When the team went back to Abuja, matters concerning the car were discussed at an executive council meeting which resulted in a commendation letter being sent to me.
"But politics of ‘why must it be an Igbo man' came up. I was shocked!"
Despite these set-backs Izogu said "the world will feel and touch a car made in |South Africa instead of a car that should have been made in Nigeria".
"This car must be mass produced. It is worth doing that I as a Nigerian.
This project has given my fellow countrymen a sense of pride. No matter where it is produced the most important thing is to co-operate.
This project remains my contribution to the development of Africa," he said.
I got this from www.nairaland.com I hoep the Nigerian guys who are full active in the nairaland forum can come join us here.
Why don't the Nigerian Government support this beutiful initiative?
But this is defintely good for Africa.
February 8th, 2006
S/Africa to acquire rights to produce Nigerian car
E-MAIL THIS PRINT THIS
South Africa is set to acquire the rights from an automobile engineer to mass produce Nigeria's first car, the Z600, in that country.
Christian NWOKOCHA, Owerri
South African President Thabo Mbeki has instructed his deputy-president to finalise details of the agreement with the car manufacturer with a view to producing the vehicle in South Africa.
Ezekiel Izogu, managing director of Izogu Motors Limited managing director disclosed this in an exclusive interview with BUSINESSDAY.
Izogu said the car was first launched in Owerri in 1997 by then Chief of General Staff Oladipo Diya during the regime of former Head of State Sani Abacha.
But the success story really began last year when Izogu was invited by South Africa to deliver a lecture on science and technology. Izogu said: "The South African Government encouraged me more than my own country. Mbeki sent his deputy-president to receive me and told me how ready they were to encourage me and to provide what I wanted.
"However, they said I must take the car to South Africa to let it be manufactured in their country. If they are putting up the money it is only fair that the car is made in their country".
He added that the board of directors at Izogu Motors was in the process of taking the car to South Africa, but he stressed that the Z600 would "lose its Nigerian identity".
For the car to be truly Nigerian, he said, the engine, chassis and body would have to be made in this country.
He claimed that "ethnic politics killed this product in Nigeria". "After the car's launch the Federal Government formed a high-powered team of scientists to probe my work. This team was led by the then Science and Technology Minister, Sam Momoh.
The team was drawn from research institutions in Nigeria. "They spent three days in Owerri investigating my job. Questions were asked and I answered them.
"When the team went back to Abuja, matters concerning the car were discussed at an executive council meeting which resulted in a commendation letter being sent to me.
"But politics of ‘why must it be an Igbo man' came up. I was shocked!"
Despite these set-backs Izogu said "the world will feel and touch a car made in |South Africa instead of a car that should have been made in Nigeria".
"This car must be mass produced. It is worth doing that I as a Nigerian.
This project has given my fellow countrymen a sense of pride. No matter where it is produced the most important thing is to co-operate.
This project remains my contribution to the development of Africa," he said.