Google Speech-to-Text API Automatic Transcription (Chirp). Treat it as a searchable index of what was broadcast, not a quotation record.
00:00:59Hello!
00:01:00and welcome to our millions of viewers here in Nigeria, the
00:01:03continent and all around the world. This
00:01:07is amazing Africans, the documentary
00:01:10series that captures the incredible stories of Africans
00:01:14making exceptional impact here in the continents and across the world. I
00:01:18am Kelly Egiga. Today we're filming
00:01:22from Innewi in southeast Nigeria, and
00:01:26that's because we're here to meet with the CEO and founder of
00:01:30innocent vehicle manufacturing company, IVM for
00:01:33short, chief innocent Chukuma, that's because IVM
00:01:37is
00:01:39of Nigeria's first indigenous manufacturing company,
00:01:42let's get to hear his
00:01:44story,
00:01:49in of manufacturing is about more than producing vehicle,
00:01:53supporting local businesses and building economy that can stand
00:01:56strong, as Nigeria promotes energy. solution
00:02:00like CNG, we appreciate the effort and policies that
00:02:04support this transition, however, for a country to develop strong
00:02:07industies, we must create an environment that encourage investors
00:02:11and industrials to build here, when policies
00:02:15making importing products easier than producing locally, it can
00:02:19discourage those that want to invest, build factories, create jobs
00:02:22and technology within
00:02:24of Nigeria, industrial growth requires commitment,
00:02:28because building factory years of investment, training,
00:02:32planning and dedication. Our hope is that
00:02:35policies will continue to support local productions,
00:02:39because every factory established in Nigeria create opportunities for
00:02:43Nigerians and straighten their economy, when we manufacture here, we
00:02:47create job here, develop skills here and build a stronger future
00:02:51for Nigeria. Hiden is the heart of
00:02:54Anambra state lies
00:02:56a city unlike any other in West Africa.
00:03:00town where every street hums with
00:03:03industry and
00:03:05of innovation. this is
00:03:08nei, and today we are meeting the
00:03:11man who dared to put Nigeria on the automotive
00:03:15map.
00:03:23my friend, i am here to meet the trail blazer
00:03:27himself, innocent chukuma, but
00:03:30of before the engines war, before the machines
00:03:33awaken, a leader gets to
00:03:36work, because i'm playing tennis, i'm always
00:03:40like to make my body feet before going to
00:03:43tennis, yeah, yes i start
00:03:46out,
00:03:53of of everything here, yeah,
00:03:57it's all.
00:04:12of
00:04:22of
00:04:27of
00:04:30discipline with and consistency, exercise is life,
00:04:37of CEO, a success doesn't
00:04:41start in the board room, when
00:04:46me starts you it wake up and do exercise, your body will come back, any
00:04:51a in ans we exit the
00:04:54gym, the place where chief Chukuma tells me he builds
00:04:58strength before he builds. strategy we had for the long
00:05:02tennis court a sports, he's been playing for
00:05:0528 years, yes it is
00:05:081980, young 1980
00:05:11yes. because if
00:05:15leave myself like uh one month two months
00:05:19i see the difference in so i come back to
00:05:22excise you i'm a very busy person but must create time
00:05:26for excise i really imagine how
00:05:28you do yes yes yes
00:05:29yes
00:06:00Done with the exercise, chief Chukuma takes
00:06:04me a ride in his IVM's M hero a
00:06:08luxury vehicle and our destination is IVM factory.
00:06:30He says he makes it a policy to test drive every
00:06:34car for a period of at least 3 months
00:06:38before it hits the
00:06:39market.
00:06:48wow
00:06:48this is this car
00:06:52has everything that can you see as we work
00:06:56out lock itself as we shift out of
00:06:59it it locks automatically automatic we shift out of
00:07:03it as
00:07:04i have le that place you lock out open your again and i
00:07:08don't k it wow you will enjoy the car if
00:07:12you able to have it, at the factory, the hum of
00:07:16machinery, sparks of welding and rore of
00:07:19engines tell a new kind of success
00:07:21story,
00:07:37this is innocent vehicle manufacturing,
00:07:40africa's first indigenous car makaker and it's
00:07:44driving a big change in Nigeria's automobile
00:07:48sector, this is
00:07:50the manufacturing
00:07:53the company
00:07:53now you see so this engine produces
00:07:5715
00:07:57buses
00:08:0217 se 18 se 15 se only can
00:08:05produce
00:08:06here.
00:08:12100% wow
00:08:23production 100%
00:08:24100%
00:08:27100% we farm dis we
00:08:28f everything
00:08:37is way forward now with what the government is doing on
00:08:41CNG I believe.
00:08:45because government focus attention to
00:08:48make changes happen in Nigeria, so I believe that
00:08:52we have a greater future on CNG, that's why I started
00:08:56producing CNG in all buses and changing
00:09:00all cars now, yes and
00:09:04there is some them that use cng and also
00:09:07use, but also convert to CNG, but now we focus
00:09:11on producing CNG.
00:09:12because
00:09:14they economics mainly
00:09:16commercial vehicles so that the transporter can
00:09:19make it. what about the concerns? people say oh the gas can
00:09:23explode. people do not understand what is
00:09:27cng
00:09:29and normal gas cylinder for cooking?
00:09:32some people are trying to use the one for cooking is
00:09:35safer.
00:09:39we have a system maintain. the guyline
00:09:43is more safer than we started the production before
00:09:47the government attention on it,
00:09:51many people now are going to CNG because of government want people to use
00:09:54CNG, but
00:09:56we have started two years before, yes we made the
00:09:59system, we we design it and we are doing it
00:10:02correct, founded in
00:10:052007, innocent motors has grown from
00:10:09daring idea to a symbol of local pride.
00:10:13now producing a wide range of vehicles from slick
00:10:16sadents to rugged pickups and buses tailored
00:10:20to nigerian
00:10:21roads.
00:10:46These cars are designed with the Nigerian
00:10:49terrain in mind, durable, fuel
00:10:52efficient and most importantly,
00:10:54affordable.
00:11:28my next stop is electric vehicles which are gaining
00:11:31traction here in Nigeria and the continent with
00:11:35both local and international brands offering
00:11:38options.
00:11:43people are so much interested and because of
00:11:46how you look at
00:11:49it.
00:11:56no engine, wow, electric, but you can
00:12:00move, you can drive it and they can go anywhere
00:12:03anywhere, yes anywhere, this one
00:12:07cover, the charging will be cover 400 km,
00:12:11400 km, 400 km, charge again, because that's one the concerns for
00:12:14people, this
00:12:15one is 400 km, it charge again,
00:12:18wow, therans are a bit concerned about how do we get
00:12:22to charge,
00:12:55as businessman, i'm sure you
00:12:56be in to someday have factory, if
00:13:00any state by buy anf
00:13:03a little vehicle from me and make a charging point in the estate, oh wow, free
00:13:07of charge, wow, if they buy enough
00:13:11quantity from me, for myself, make a charging point in
00:13:15the city, where
00:13:16the charger
00:13:17can charge elles, any states, i'm ready to do that
00:13:21for them, wow, have you done it for any states yet?
00:13:25Yes, I negotiating to do, oh great, fantastic, fantastic.
00:13:29IVM is one the key players here in Nigeria,
00:13:32producing various electric vehicles and while the
00:13:36current EV adoption rate is relatively low,
00:13:39it's steadily increasing, field by rising
00:13:43fuel cost, environmental concerns and growing
00:13:47demand for urban transport. Nigeria has
00:13:50also set ambitious goals including
00:13:54100%. zero emission sales for new cars and
00:13:58vans by 2040, but is
00:14:01this target feasible in future
00:14:05people go to CNG and electric car, they go to
00:14:09CNG more, because yes, electric
00:14:13car, um, Nigerians, Nigerians
00:14:16doesn't like battery and have about 80
00:14:20years livespan, and if the batty die in 80 years of
00:14:24lifeespan. you will buy a new battery
00:14:27until we have factory here that produce battery that you can take your
00:14:31old battery and they take small money and give you new
00:14:35one that's where the electric car will go if your factory
00:14:39start to produce the battery here as soon as the battery is not here
00:14:43after 80 years this original battery will go you must change
00:14:46it and the cost the battery it cost you not
00:14:50less than uh 40 40% the car
00:14:54oh wow yes and Nigeria drive motor 80 is still new
00:14:57motor, you understand? if you are ready to buy that
00:15:01battery for 40% the car,
00:15:03you use that 80 years, wow, yes, but if there is battery
00:15:07company here that produce battery, you will take your old battery and give
00:15:11them, they give the battery a smaller price, you
00:15:15understand, so that's why i think cng is more easy,
00:15:19because ch is everywhere in Nigeria,
00:15:22but Nigerians are yet
00:15:24to truly. we
00:15:25are a bit skeptical about electric, but they will go,
00:15:28they eventually they will, you say this is the future, yes
00:15:31this is the future, electric car is the future, when when
00:15:34you i know you travel lot, you go to asian countries, japan, china,
00:15:46cars there, well um, in other countries now,
00:15:50most cars are going to
00:15:53electric because of cost of f, some
00:15:56countries are using CNG, you understand, so Nigeria
00:16:00have the incentive, people, people that ready to buy electric is
00:16:04available for them, people that want to buy CNG available for them,
00:16:08we are here to serve them on their demand. Nigeria is
00:16:12seeing increase in EV usage with estimates
00:16:16ranging from 15,000 to 20,000 EVs on the
00:16:19roads in early 2025. In fact,
00:16:23the Nigerian government to understand aims to increase local EV
00:16:27production to at least 30% by
00:16:302032, according to its national action plan
00:16:34for the development of electric vehicle. are also on the
00:16:38way to expand charging infrastructure,
00:16:42including the establishment of charging stations,
00:16:45but there are challenges and then opportunities
00:16:49too, for instance, while some EVs are becoming more
00:16:53affordable, the initial cost of purchasing an EV can
00:16:57still be a barrier for some consumers, ensuring wide
00:17:00spread availability of charging stations, especially in
00:17:04rural areas is crucial for further EV. adoption
00:17:08and then government policies and incentives play a
00:17:12vital role in promoting EV adoption and local
00:17:15manufacturing. In the meantime, continued innovation
00:17:19in battery technology and charging solutions will be
00:17:23essential for improving EV performance and
00:17:26affordability
00:17:35and as innocent impact, extends far beyond
00:17:39manufacturing with over 700 direct and
00:17:42indirect jobs created and a strong supply chain rooted in
00:17:46local partnerships, the company is driving up
00:17:50industrialization in many ways, few
00:17:53expected,
00:18:01we visitway ultra modern market, it was
00:18:04here that chief innocent first hand with his days
00:18:08of little beginnings selling spare parts
00:18:11and now he uses the facility to display
00:18:15motorcycles and tricycles while some offices still
00:18:19continue selling spare parts, but what's the
00:18:22story behind this
00:18:25visionary? i was born
00:18:27in neigh,
00:18:31and i have um my
00:18:34mother born for... boys
00:18:38and two girls, out of all, I'm the last
00:18:42son of my family, I started my school
00:18:45at at St. Michael
00:18:49Catholic school, my father died
00:18:521978, while my mother
00:18:56by 2000 and
00:18:5820,
00:19:0123, how will you describe your father and your mother?
00:19:05Oh, in fact I will
00:19:07say that... two them are very close, my father is a civil
00:19:10servant before he
00:19:12retire and do private
00:19:15business so
00:19:18and my mother is
00:19:20housewife
00:19:23and when my
00:19:26father die see i feel like end
00:19:30the it is world the buse i don't know my father will
00:19:33die was i was 18 years when he died
00:20:08so my father and all my family and looking care of me very
00:20:11well, i'm not sure if the accident is result of this car,
00:20:15yes part of it, wow, it is
00:20:19my to wash when my
00:20:22brother to cross the road,
00:20:25i rem to pick my first brush,
00:20:27then smashed
00:20:31me and nobody believe that i'm
00:20:34i
00:20:41person for about 3 hours before there is a
00:20:44sign,
00:20:49hospital. Well, I'm sure you're grateful that you're life today. I'm so
00:20:53grateful, I'm happy that I live
00:20:57today. In
00:21:001978, after he was down with secondary
00:21:04education, he applied to study engineering at the
00:21:07university, but while waiting, he realized he
00:21:11did not meet the cut of mark. He later went to help his
00:21:15elder brother Gabriel out in his medicine store with
00:21:19his. brother, he realized
00:21:22he had natural talent for trading, and that's why in
00:21:251981, after his education, the young
00:21:29innocent began trading in spare parts, very
00:21:32lucrative business in southeast Nigeria, he then
00:21:36founded the company, Innocent Group with Innocent
00:21:39Manufacturing, Innocent Tech and Industries code
00:21:43Limited as its subsidiaries in
00:21:451982. In
00:21:492000. se innoson vehicle manufacturing was
00:21:53established with its headquarters in neiwi
00:21:57and number states. IVM is also known as the
00:22:01pride of African roads. I started
00:22:04with Mr.
00:22:06America,
00:22:09this. He teach me how to be
00:22:13trading trappers after
00:22:17that um... brother established for
00:22:21me and start and and
00:22:24trade for my brother for some years
00:22:28then from there my brother established my
00:22:30own so my brother Mr
00:22:34Gabriel Schuma he established me
00:22:38my own after i trade for him for some time
00:22:41so from there on that
00:22:45trading i
00:22:48le motorcycle sp from that i start
00:22:52b motor sps from there i i start motorcycle
00:22:56assembly when i start motorcycle assembling it is only
00:23:00very few company are doing motorcycle assembling
00:23:03honda is doing for um are
00:23:07doing for honda b are doing for
00:23:11suzuki uh doing
00:23:15for yamaha so i'm the fifth
00:23:18company that's established
00:23:27then so i started with a
00:23:30inosin motorcycle,
00:23:33do um
00:23:37some brands, so my company is the fifth company
00:23:41that assembling, so from
00:23:44there i do
00:23:47plastic manufacturing.
00:23:55am producing
00:23:56where i plastic, my plastic company is the largest in west africaping
00:24:00today, wow, yes i have very large plastic
00:24:04company, i have also
00:24:07factory and also i have tire factory,
00:24:10motorcycle tire factory, so before i
00:24:14think of moto manufacturing, so when i look i
00:24:18feel that nigerians
00:24:20"i am always going to buy secondh vehicles, so
00:24:24look at it and study why not just going back to
00:24:28buy some vehicle. i found because of it's too expensive,
00:24:32decided to do it here so that the price
00:24:36will be down for people, that's what makes
00:24:40me to go and start motor
00:24:41manufacturing,
00:24:45IVM has partnered with state government, security
00:24:49agencies, and educational institutions,
00:24:53supplying customized vehicles and offering technical
00:24:57training, there is
00:24:59a time insurgence are disturbing some
00:25:03areas in our side of Nigeria and air
00:25:06force are ready to work, but because of
00:25:10some problems they cannot get their spare pass from
00:25:14oversea, when they come to me the black
00:25:18assembling and i manufacture it in my
00:25:21faction even better than the one they
00:25:24import, do it for them, give them, that's what they
00:25:28use to tackle the their job that time, and they
00:25:31recommended me to the Nigerian defense
00:25:34academy, they give a doctorate degree because of
00:25:37that effort i make, when there is
00:25:41c 19, so there's no
00:25:45ambulances, they come to me, i
00:25:48produce massive ambulances is to Nigerians that time they cannot even
00:25:52import it, nobody can do better produce the local, give
00:25:56them, that's it is important to support to
00:25:59support local, if
00:26:01you are supporting local when there's emergency it should
00:26:04help. the company doesn't just
00:26:08assemble cars, it builds opportunities. with
00:26:12over 70% of vehicle components made locally, the
00:26:16company has become a key employer across the southeast
00:26:19region, directly and indirectly creating thousands
00:26:23of jobs in manufacturing, logistics, sales
00:26:27and service, yet perhaps the
00:26:30most transformative part of... innocent story is not what it
00:26:34buils in factories, but what it builds in
00:26:38people. what is that? if you are capable
00:26:42to do the job well, i employ no matter where you are from, i'm
00:26:46not interested in tr, i'm interested to you to
00:26:49work, if you are working well, you are my
00:26:52friend, so i'm not interested
00:26:56to to ask, are you from which region, it's not
00:26:59important, the important is for you to do the job. well and in
00:27:03states like kaduna and cano, IVM vehicles are becoming
00:27:07common sites from rugged pickup trucks used in
00:27:10farming to buses serving local schools and government
00:27:14agencies, but what's next for chief
00:27:18innocent Chukuma and the IVM brand?
00:27:22because of CNG and electric motor i'm building new
00:27:26factory that will content
00:27:28uh um I want to
00:27:32operate the factory so that one will be for the small cars, one
00:27:36will be for big ones, so the the new factory will be for the
00:27:40big trucks because the space, factory that
00:27:44has capacity to produce um
00:27:47cng, buses and truck um about
00:27:5130,000 a year, because without
00:27:55that factory now uh when the cng pick
00:27:59in Nigeria without that factor it will be difficult to supply.
00:28:03so I'm building it already and it should be ready in short time.
00:28:07Innocent Motors isn't just factory.
00:28:11It's a symbol,
00:28:13a bold statement that Africa can build,
00:28:17innovate and compete. With over
00:28:2010,00 vehicles on African roads and counting,
00:28:24Innocent Motors is now the pride the
00:28:27continent. IVM is proving that Nigeria
00:28:31doesn't have to rely. soly on imports, it's not just about
00:28:35cars, it's about sovereignty, jobs and the
00:28:39future where we export and not just
00:28:42consume, from tackling unemployment to giving
00:28:46Nigeria seat at the table in the global auto
00:28:50industry. Innocent Motors isn't just building
00:28:54vehicles, it's building vision, and as the wheels of
00:28:57progress turn, the road ahead looks
00:29:01promising.
00:29:05as Nigeria looks to diversify its economy and embrace
00:29:09home grown innovation, companies like
00:29:12Innocent the country into a new
00:29:15era, one vehicle a time, from the
00:29:19streets of Newi to the highways of
00:29:22Africa, chief Innocent Chukuma's
00:29:25vision rows ahead, he is more than an
00:29:29entrepreneur, chief Chukuma is... and
00:29:33this home grown revolution, that's why he
00:29:37is an amazing
00:29:39African.
00:29:49From his days of little beginnings to
00:29:53building a dynasty in the automobile
00:29:56industry. Chief Innocent Chukuma's
00:29:59story is exceptionally.
00:30:02inspirational and that's why he is an
00:30:06amazing African, that's the show
00:30:10everyone, but you can join us again next time for another
00:30:13episode the program from Newi
00:30:17in Southeast Nigeria, I am Kelly,
00:30:21Egiga and I will see you again next time, bye
00:30:24now.