The Nigerian Village Square - Ethnic Politics In Nigeria's Automobile Technology

Ethnic Politics In Nigeria's Automobile Technology

Written by Ossie Ezeaku

Thursday, 19 April 2007

I am once again constrained to write on the issue of Nigeria's search for indigenous automobile technology. My first write-up on it was published by the Nigeriaworld.com, and the topic was on the travails of Engr. Ezekiel Izuogu, the man who constructed the first all--African car.

Now, subsequent to the emergence of the US based automobile designer from Sokoto state, this subject has become more pertinent than ever, and may have set an ethnic politics in motion. As to the two men, and which amongst them is getting the federal government's attention, that will remain the judgment of close watchers..

Nigeria's Jelani Aliyu, It would be recalled, was responsible for designing the new GM's futuristic Chevy Volt.

From every indication, Nigeria may soon lead the continent in automobile technology. But there are certain inhibiting factors that must be nipped in the bud if progress is to come in that direction. The take-off of indigenous automobile technology in Nigeria was something that should be pursued with true national zeal. Yes, true national zeal, in the sense that God has endowed the nation with the prerequisite human talents.

The case of Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu was one regrettable incident. Since Izuogu's Z600 pro-to-type hit the TV screens of the world ten years ago, nothing concrete has been heard from the Nigerian authorities To compound the sad story was the fact that nether the government nor the nation's automotive council seemed to care about the project, and the subsequent sabotage of the man's intellectual property.

It would be recalled that some faceless elements raided Dr. Izuogu's project's site at Owerri and removed the design history and moulds of the Z600. Since then, Dr. Izuogu and his project, for some unknown reasons have faded in the public memory.

And without much extrapolation, the news of the triumph of Jelani Aliyu at America's General Motors (GM), has rather captivated the interest of Nigeria's Automotive council. To the extent that the chairman of the council, Alhaji Luqman Mamudu has intimated the public of the council's intention to "immediately work with Aliyu", and if possible, look into his job contract with General Motors. While this was a good development, the question is: why hasn't the same council reached out to another citizen who has spent research-time and money to put out a complete pro-to-type automobile on the road

This was about the glory of Nigeria. And thus, national interest must come first. America is a case study in this wise, she embraced all her inventions and the personalities behind them, irrespective of the fact that some of those revolutionary inventions were by descendants of black African slaves. Top amongst them were Garret Morgan's construction of the first traffic signal, and John Stanard's world's first ever refrigerator, which used compressed air and gas ether as coolant.

The emergence of Mallam Jelani Aliyu should not be made to look like an ethnic match. Indeed, It is a good omen for the whole country. Though, In principle, We have already achieved a pro-to-type made-in-Nigeria automobile through Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu, whose chassis, body, engine, interior, exterior and accessories were sourced and developed with eighty percent local materials. Attested to by the world press.

And to be noted is the fact that the two men are not exactly in the same field: Aliyu, in a layman's definition, is a car-exterior designer, precisely a creative artist; an extremely talented one for that matter. On the other hand, Ezekiel Izuogu is an Automobile Engineer and inventor with a knack for details. Even If they were to be in the same field, it should still be a glory for the nation.

Nation building implies that we must harness the potentials of all citizens, even as the combination of these two consummate professionals would be very handy for Nigeria's emerging home-grown technology. Aliyu presently works with the likes of Engineer Izuogu in GM, strengthening America's competitive edge over others. So, having their likes collectively pioneer Africa's automobile industry in Nigeria, while holding whatever individual patent that may be granted to them, would be as well good..

Thus, the onus was now on the government and her automotive council to explain to Nigerians the reasons for ignoring Dr.Izuogu's Z600.

As Aliyu was professionally limited to drawing car exteriors, what about Dr. Izuogu's technical-know-how, applied in developing the engine and other vital components locally? All of which collectively made his Z600 concept unique. I suppose the whole idea was in pursuant of an all-round Nigerian technology? Or are we going to have an Aliyu-exterior-designed-car, with engine and vital components imported presumably from South East Asia?

Even the establishment of a Chinese car assembly plant announced by the federal government, won't do us much good. It'll still remain an assembly plant of a foreign product.The price per unit and the technical specifications of such Chinese cars may turn out less favorable than that of the Z600, put at 1800 dollars per unit.

The designers of the Z600, I believe, would have borne in mind the nature of our infrastructure and environment. In essence, the government and its automotive council should sit down with these two gentlemen, bring out the best in each of them, and for once, put a smile on the faces of the would-be beneficiaries--Nigerians

Robot Robot is offline
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	# 1 I am once again constrained to write on theissue of Nigeria's search forindigenous ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot\| 19.04.2007 07:36

DeepThought DeepThought is offline
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	# 2 Ossie, Thanks for your article I am once again constrained to write on the issue of Nigeria's search for indigenous automobile technology. My first write-up on it was published by the Nigeriaworld.com, and the topic was on the travails of Engr. Ezekiel Izuogu, the man who constructed the first all--African car. Nigeria is not really serious about anything , parodoxically, this tragedy even includes a disinterst in protecting its own existence. Even the statement that we are searching for an indigenous automobile technology is wrong because we definitely ARE NOT. How can you search for something that is not lost? The indigenous industries are already there, the Government (and the people to a lesser extent) are just doing their best to ignore or sabotage it. I will write on this someday. For people like me who for some reasons believe in concepts like Biafra, the question is would Biafra had ignored the Z600 and go looking for in China or in the U.S? . But thats another story for another day. BTW, I've repeatedly failed in my attempt to contact the man. How hard should it be to get in touch with Izogu? Posted by DeepThought\| 19.04.2007 09:02

oluye oluye is offline
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	# 3 If you are saying Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu's efforts deserves revisiting, that is in order but don't tie it to any ethnic sentiments. It is not necessarily the best that make it in life, it is the person who comes along when the circumstances are right. Let me prove my point. Before Dr. Izuogu was Prof. Awojobi of Unilag. He designed Autonov 1, a military assault vehicle, that needed no extra space to make a U-turn than what it needs to travel, among several other innovations. This same man went on to author books which formed the foundation for many Nigerian engineers and architects. What did Nigeria make of his efforts? As a world renowned vibration engineer, he later went on to assist Mercedes benz in the design of its automobile engine- a feat for which University of Lagos received royalties for several years. Yet, nobody is saying Awojobi's project was neglected for tribal sentiments. Aliyu is merely lucky that the government of the day is responsive to such things and having been exposed, not only to the design and fabrication aspects but to the way deals are packaged in that industry, he brings more to the table. If Izuogu's invention is still worthy of revisiting why don't you seek the man out and help him present his innovation instead of fanning ethnic embers? In other countries, is it really the government that develops inventions or capitalist investors? Must Ndigbo wait for the federal government, can't this ethnic quest be turned into something productive, like Odua investments? Should someone like Pat Utomi with his business acumen organise the producers at Aba into an industrial force, will Igbo's and Nigerians alike not vote him into power that he may do to Nigeria what he has done to Aba? I admire the Igbo for their ingenuity(as a matter of fact, I bought shoes simply because they were made in Aba!) but one will suppose that by now, there will be a special fund, created by Ndigbo to develop the geniuses at Aba and lead an industrial revolution in Nigeria. Then, having found their industry, the rest of Nigeria can rally around them. The greatest undoing of Nigeria at the present is that instead of developing regional potentials, we are all aiming at capturing and controlling the oil wealth, in the process squandering billions that can rejuvenate regional economies. Like all of us, ingenious Igbo is blinded and overdependent on federal might. Like beggars we all go cup in hand, depending on the centre which should be depending on us. Posted by oluye\| 19.04.2007 10:36

lara lara is offline
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	# 4 =oluye;169648>If you are saying Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu's efforts deserves revisiting, that is in order but don't tie it to any ethnic sentiments. It is not necessarily the best that make it in life, it is the person who comes along when the circumstances are right. Let me prove my point. Before Dr. Izuogu was Prof. Awojobi of Unilag. He designed Autonov 1, a military assault vehicle, that needed no extra space to make a U-turn than what it needs to travel, among several other innovations. This same man went on to author books which formed the foundation for many Nigerian engineers and architects.What did Nigeria make of his efforts? As a world renowned vibration engineer, he later went on to assist Mercedes benz in the design of its automobile engine- a feat for which University of Lagos received royalties for several years. Yet, nobody is saying Awojobi's project was neglected for tribal sentiments. Aliyu is merely lucky that the government of the day is responsive to such things and having been exposed, not only to the design and fabrication aspects but to the way deals are packaged in that industry, he brings more to the table. If Izuogu's invention is still worthy of revisiting why don't you seek the man out and help him present his innovation instead of fanning ethnic embers? In other countries is it really the government that develops inventions or capitalist investors? Must Ndigbo wait for the federal government, can't this ethnic quest be turned into something productive, like Odua investments? Should someone like Pat Utomi with his business acumen organise the producers at Aba into an industrial force, will Igbo's and Nigerians alike not vote him into power that he may do to Nigeria what he has done to Aba? I admire the Igbo for their ingenuity(as a matter of fact, I bought shoes simply because they were made in Aba!) but one will suppose that by now, there will be a special fund, created by Ndigbo to develop the geniuses at Aba and lead an industrial revolution in Nigeria. Then, having found their industry, the rest of Nigeria can rally around them. The greatest undoing of Nigeria at the present is that instead of developing regional potentials, we are all aiming at capturing and controlling the oil wealth, in the process squandering billions that can rejuvenate regional economies. Like all of us, ingenious Igbo is blinded and overdependent on federal might. Like beggars we all go cup in hand, depending on the centre which should be depending on us. Bold :mad: Underlined :idea: Rest :cool: Posted by lara\| 19.04.2007 13:03

chudi chudi is offline
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	# 5 OLuye I support some of your ideas and disgree with others. If you said that ethnicity doesnt play a significant role in whatever is done in NIgeria, then you must have lost touch with the country for God knows how many decades. It is not my intention here to revisit where and where all these have happened as whoever is familiar with the trend in Nigeria knows what I am saying. You mean that even if Izuogu comes out today that someone will listen to him? Abeg let us not be too fast to forget the past just in the name of being patriotic. Then I can agree with you that individuals from geopolical zones can play a significant role in to assist in times like this.But mind you that the government is in the better position to bring these people and present them with all that is necessary for them to carry on with their inventions. LIke I said earlier, who ever says that ethnicity does not play a big role in anything Nigerian, that person must have forgotten when last theyvisited Nigeria. Posted by chudi\| 19.04.2007 13:41

Johntina Johntina is offline
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	# 6 Only stupid people build from the top! Automobile technology cannot reasonably be said to be a priority for a society that has not been able to organise itself in any way. First, the foundation for a successful society must be laid by way of enthroning the principles of rule of law and everyhing else will follow. Law is the foundation of any successful society, but some educated Black people think Phds are. I once opined that 120 million Nigerian Phd holders would still not be able to build a successful society unless they can organise themselves. We must organise ourselves first through law before any progress can be made! John Iteshi Posted by Johntina\| 19.04.2007 14:29

tonsoyo tonsoyo is offline
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	# 7 =oluye;169648>If you are saying Dr. Ezekiel Izuogu's efforts deserves revisiting, that is in order but don't tie it to any ethnic sentiments. It is not necessarily the best that make it in life, it is the person who comes along when the circumstances are right. Let me prove my point. Before Dr. Izuogu was Prof. Awojobi of Unilag. He designed Autonov 1, a military assault vehicle, that needed no extra space to make a U-turn than what it needs to travel, among several other innovations. This same man went on to author books which formed the foundation for many Nigerian engineers and architects. What did Nigeria make of his efforts? As a world renowned vibration engineer, he later went on to assist Mercedes benz in the design of its automobile engine- a feat for which University of Lagos received royalties for several years. Yet, nobody is saying Awojobi's project was neglected for tribal sentiments. Aliyu is merely lucky that the government of the day is responsive to such things and having been exposed, not only to the design and fabrication aspects but to the way deals are packaged in that industry, he brings more to the table. If Izuogu's invention is still worthy of revisiting why don't you seek the man out and help him present his innovation instead of fanning ethnic embers? In other countries, is it really the government that develops inventions or capitalist investors? Must Ndigbo wait for the federal government, can't this ethnic quest be turned into something productive, like Odua investments? Should someone like Pat Utomi with his business acumen organise the producers at Aba into an industrial force, will Igbo's and Nigerians alike not vote him into power that he may do to Nigeria what he has done to Aba? I admire the Igbo for their ingenuity(as a matter of fact, I bought shoes simply because they were made in Aba!) but one will suppose that by now, there will be a special fund, created by Ndigbo to develop the geniuses at Aba and lead an industrial revolution in Nigeria. Then, having found their industry, the rest of Nigeria can rally around them. The greatest undoing of Nigeria at the present is that instead of developing regional potentials, we are all aiming at capturing and controlling the oil wealth, in the process squandering billions that can rejuvenate regional economies. Like all of us, ingenious Igbo is blinded and overdependent on federal might. Like beggars we all go cup in hand, depending on the centre which should be depending on us. This is brilliant, precise and a perfect response to this article. There is nothing more to add to this response. Posted by tonsoyo\| 19.04.2007 14:52

Mikky jaga Mikky jaga is offline
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	# 8 Oluye has really stated it as it is, but unlike Tonsoyo, there is something to add. If Izuogu eventually, through some miracle, is able to produce his vehicle, how many of his Igbo brethren will be prepared to purchase same at the expense of the already perfected Limousines from abroad? Will they not be the first to call it crude contraption? To buttress my point, there was in the news some time ago, of an ingenious Igbo man who built an FM Station completely from Local materials. He was actually broadcasting to people in his State from the Radio Station. I thought his State Government would award him the contract to build one for it when it wanted to build its Station, but, no, it awarded the contract to an Oyibo Country that fleeced the State dry of some badly needed cash. The Guy's Station is now off the air, and Nigeria is the worst for it. His tribesman was the Minister of Science and Technology at the particular time. Nigerian government is just not interested in developing indigenous technology, no matter which ethnic group the technology came from. Posted by Mikky jaga\| 20.04.2007 04:23

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