The Federal University Lokoja has
entered into a strong partnership with Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd.
popularly known as Innoson Motors or IVM, a Nigerian automobile and bus
manufacturing company (nicknamed Pride of African Road) located in Nnewi,
Anambra State.
It was indeed a historic
adventure and mouthwatering experience as the Vice-Chancellor, Professor
Olayemi Akinwumi led a Management Team on a business meeting and tour of
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing plant in Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria.
Professor Akinwumi and his
Management Team were warmly received and conducted round the mind-blowing
production site of the Company by the industrial revolutionist, Chief Dr.
Innocent Chukwuma (Ifediaso Nnewi), Chairman/Managing Director Innoson Group.
In his remarks, the
Vice-Chancellor informed the Group Chairman that the University was interested
in becoming the new face of Innoson Motors in Northern Nigeria, which was part
of the reason for the important visit. He stated that the University was willing
to identify with such an entrepreneurial giant whose impact and giant strides
across several industries were leading the way in the realization of quality,
durable and affordable made-in-Nigeria products for economic growth and self-sufficiency.
Professor Akinwumi also
requested that students of the proposed Faculty of Engineering of the
University be given opportunity for their workshop/internship programme in the
Company, while maintaining that such partnership would go a long way in building
bridges across ethnic, religion and regional divides.
Responding to the demands, the
CEO of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Chukwuma, expressed his willingness to
partner with the University, assuring the Vice-Chancellor and his Management
Team of his unflinching support. He promised a robust and harmonious working
relationship between IVM and FUL that would bring rapid development to the
University in particular, and the Educational System in Nigeria at large.
Chief Chukwuma had earlier welcomed
the Vice-Chancellor and his entourage from Lokoja with kolanut, which he noted
was an Igbo cultural practice that depicts love, unity, acceptability and
friendship, and prayed for the success of the meeting.
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor
Olayemi Akinwumi, in his visionary drive of making Federal University Lokoja a
cynosure of a reputable and world-class University of the 21st
Century, has left no stone unturned in engaging the private sector and good
spirited individuals that would turn the fortunes of FUL around in the
not-too-distant future.
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