Nigerian auto manufacturer Innoson Group employs 8,000 workers nationwide and plans to hire 2,000 more as it expands production, including the launch of a new tractor plant, its chief executive said on Saturday.
Chairperson and Chief Executive Officer Innocent Chukwuma disclosed the figures after hosting the management of the Bank of Industry at the company’s vehicle manufacturing facilities in Nnewi, southeastern Anambra State.
Chukwuma said the company currently has 8,000 direct employees across its operations in Nigeria and intends to engage an additional 2,000 workers in a new factory as expansion projects gather pace.
“We presently have 8,000 direct staff, and we are planning to employ 2,000 more in our new factory,” he said.
He added that the workforce would increase significantly once new production lines become fully operational, reflecting the company’s push to scale up domestic manufacturing capacity.
Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing is widely regarded as Nigeria’s first indigenous automobile manufacturer, producing cars, buses and trucks for the local market.
Chukwuma said his long-term vision was to promote self-reliance among Nigerian youths by creating jobs and expanding local industrial production.
As part of that strategy, he announced the establishment of a tractor assembly plant at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, aimed at improving access to farm equipment and boosting agricultural productivity.
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According to him, the new plant will enhance the availability of tractors for farmers and support mechanised agriculture in communities across the country.
Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation, has long struggled with low levels of industrialisation and heavy dependence on imports, including vehicles and machinery.
The federal government has in recent years promoted local manufacturing as part of efforts to diversify the economy away from oil, create jobs and conserve foreign exchange.
Chukwuma attributed Innoson’s growth to a longstanding partnership with the Bank of Industry, a government-owned development finance institution.
He said the bank had supported the acquisition of equipment for more than two decades, enabling the company to expand its operations and modernise production processes.
The Executive Director for Large Enterprises at the Bank of Industry, Omar Shekarau, described Innoson as a homegrown success story that had grown steadily from modest beginnings.
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“Innoson started small but has grown into a company Nigerians are proud of,” Shekarau said during the visit.
He assured the company of the bank’s continued support and called on Nigerians to patronise locally manufactured vehicles and machinery to strengthen domestic industry.
Chukwuma also highlighted the role of women in the company’s operations, saying they are deployed in sensitive sections of the factory due to their discipline and attention to detail.
“There are some sensitive areas where we decided that it is women who will be there because they obey the rules,” he said.
“When you need accuracy in some areas, women are more prudent.”
Industry analysts say expanding local vehicle assembly and machinery production could help reduce Nigeria’s import bill and create skilled jobs, though manufacturers continue to face challenges including high energy costs, foreign exchange constraints and infrastructure gaps.
Innoson has previously unveiled plans to venture into electric vehicle production as global demand shifts toward cleaner energy technologies.
For Chukwuma, the focus remains on scaling up output, creating employment and deepening Nigeria’s industrial base.
“If we continue to build locally and Nigerians support what is made here, we can transform our economy,” he said.
