Nigerian car to be built in South Africa

[Pule]

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
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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.

[B M CHAM]

I really don't understand what they mean by building a Nigerian car in S.Africa.Could you please elaborate.
Thanks
B.M.CHAM

[Inertia]

Developed in Nigeria, built in South Africa..

[kulani]

Originally Posted by B M CHAM;

I really don't understand what they mean by building a Nigerian car in S.Africa.Could you please elaborate.
Thanks
B.M.CHAM

ohno:

Its pretty normal, almost what the Japanese, German and US corporations are doing with outsourcing manufacturing
to China and India in the case of Information Technology.

[friendsofthecity]

Pule,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".
I didn't really get that one right. Didn't Nigerian government want the car to be built in the country or what?

[Tbite]

What's the difference between this Car and the one that a Nigerian designed for GM Motors (America).

There's no fundamental difference. When people speak about cars, they don't speak about the country of design. They speak about where it is assembled. For the car to be a Nigerian Car, it would have to be assembled in Nigeria. It's not as if the Nigerian Manufacturing sector is incapable of handling the venture. A couple of major Car Manufacturers have set up shop in Nigeria and many more will set up shop in the future. Provided the Government endorsed the project, it would definitely be a success.

[DanteXavier]

Originally Posted by Tbite

What's the difference between this Car and the one that a Nigerian designed for GM Motors (America).

There's no fundamental difference. When people speak about cars, they don't speak about the country of design. They speak about where it is assembled. For the car to be a Nigerian Car, it would have to be assembled in Nigeria. It's not as if the Nigerian Manufacturing sector is incapable of handling the venture. A couple of major Car Manufacturers have set up shop in Nigeria and many more will set up shop in the future. Provided the Government endorsed the project, it would definitely be a success.

The ethnic issues are getting in the way. What you say makes perfect sense, and it would have already happened in 2000 were it not for the ethnic conflict.

This story is a key example of why ethnic homogenity isn't a bad thing(provided there is an absence of assimilative tendencies among the people).

[Tbite]

Nigerians should consider themselves Nigerian, before they consider themselves a member of their tribe.

[kulani]

Originally Posted by Tbite;

Nigerians should consider themselves Nigerian, before they consider themselves a member of their tribe.

Ethnic and tribal differences should not be allowed to stand in the way of important projects like these. Sadly, in Africa everyone likes to discourage someone who is doing a good thing, they find a way to pull a good man down. Else where they encourage you and lend a hand. And then we still wonder why we are under-developed. Men like Izogo ultimately gets frustrated and live Africa to settle in the west, where their skills and courage are nurtured and appreciated. This must change!!!

[Matthias Offodile]

Ethnic and tribal differences should not be allowed to stand in the way of important projects like these. Sadly, in Africa everyone likes to discourage someone who is doing a good thing, they find a way to pull a good man down. Else where they encourage you and lend a hand. And then we still wonder why we are under-developed. Men like Izogo ultimately gets frustrated and live Africa to settle in the west, where their skills and courage are nurtured and appreciated. This must change!!!

Kulani, There is a lot of truth in what you are saying, unforutunately! Definitely this has to change!!!!!!

[kulani]

Originally Posted by Matthias Offodile;

Kulani, There is a lot of truth in what you are saying, unforutunately! Definitely this has to change!!!!!!

I hate it whenever i see this. I usually try my best when i meet guys like this, to encourage them instead of actually trying to find fault with what they are doing. Sure, you can criticize but it helps to give constructive criticism which help the person actually accomplish the goal. Sorry to go off like this regarding this, its just that i come across this many times especially against our own people. hope we all can get into the habit of encouraging men like these next time we see or meet them.

[DanteXavier]

Originally Posted by kulani

Ethnic and tribal differences should not be allowed to stand in the way of important projects like these. Sadly, in Africa everyone likes to discourage someone who is doing a good thing, they find a way to pull a good man down. Else where they encourage you and lend a hand. And then we still wonder why we are under-developed. Men like Izogo ultimately gets frustrated and live Africa to settle in the west, where their skills and courage are nurtured and appreciated. This must change!!!

Exactly-ethnic heterogenity has in many ways been Africa's biggest problem. It leads Nigerians to hate and try to drag down other Nigerians, and south africans vs. south africans, etc, etc.

[Rdokoye]

Originally Posted by DanteXavier

Exactly-ethnic heterogenity has in many ways been Africa's biggest problem. It leads Nigerians to hate and try to drag down other Nigerians, and south africans vs. south africans, etc, etc.

Nigeria's ethnic issues aren't as simply as there, there's a huge history behind it, which includes a civil war.