Innoson Group is steadily emerging as one of Nigeria’s largest industrial employers. CEO Innocent Chukwuma revealed that the automaker currently has 8,000 employees, with a new factory in development expected to create an additional 2,000 positions.
During a tour of Innoson Group’s facilities in Nnewi, the company’s CEO, Innocent Chukwuma, shared employment figures with executives from the Bank of Industry. Nnewi, a key manufacturing hub, is where the automaker produces vehicles for Nigeria’s market.
Despite challenges facing Nigeria’s manufacturing sector such as foreign exchange shortages, high energy costs, and competition from imports Innoson’s growth stands out as a noteworthy achievement. Chukwuma highlighted that soon-to-be-completed production lines will “substantially boost” both output and workforce numbers nationwide.
The CEO also noted the company’s intentional placement of women in precision-focused roles, stating: “For some critical areas, we assign women because they follow rules meticulously. When accuracy is essential, women tend to be more careful. Train them properly, and they adhere to the standards better than men.”
Expanding beyond vehicles, Innoson is setting up a tractor manufacturing plant at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka. This move aims to improve farmers’ access to equipment while reducing dependence on imported machinery.
Chukwuma attributed the company’s long-term success to a partnership with the Bank of Industry, which has supported Innoson’s equipment acquisitions for over two decades.
Omar Shekarau, the Bank of Industry’s Executive Director for Large Enterprises, praised Innoson’s journey from a small startup to a business that instills national pride and affirmed the bank’s commitment to ongoing support. He also encouraged Nigerians to prioritize locally made products to strengthen the domestic economy.
With an expanding workforce, a new factory in progress, and entry into agricultural machinery, Innoson is emerging as a major contributor to Nigeria’s industrialisation, bucking the trend of contraction seen in many other manufacturing companies.