Manufacturer of indigenous car, phone charger tasks FG on promotion of local technology
ALEX AKWIWU, AN AUTOMO BILE engineer and the managing director of Ephraim Joana Akwiwu Automobile Shop (EJAAS), Owerri, Imo State has called on the federal and state governments to expedite action on the implementation of proposed measures for the promotion and patronage of indigenous technology in the country.
Akwiwu studied agricultural technology at Federal Polytechnic, Nekede, Owerri before travelling to Spain and other European countries to study automobile engineering before returning to Nigeria to establish his business.
Nigeria is a country that is naturally endowed with abundant human and material resources which, if adequately harnessed and put into proper use, would position it as the Japan of Africa, he said at a gathering in Owerri.
The EJAAS Nigeria chief spoke at a brief but colourful ceremony which had the Amara Iwunayanwu, deputy speaker, Imo State House of Assembly, Kanayo Onyemaechi, member, Imo State House of Assembly for Owerri West; reprentatives of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Imo/ Abia branch, members of the Owerri Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (OCCIMA), and leaders of industries, during which he showcased some of the company’s products including IYI Decharger, a machine capable of charging more than 100 mobile phones at a time.
“IYI Decharger is a relief to mobile phone charging business and a total solution to areas with little or no electric power supply. De-Charger has the capacity to charge more than 100 phones via USB, making it the first innovation suitable for youth empowerment or adult settlements.
“De-charger is powered by green energy. Being noiseless and friendly to the environment, the people around De-charger, including the operator, are safe from health hazards associated with others in the same business,” he explained.
He further informed that apart from the mp3 entertainment system, IYI De Charger has an optional WiFi connection which allows its customers to have access to the internet with the permission of its operator.
According to him, EJAAS which commenced operation in 2011 with the maintenance and service of vehicles is currently training a number of engineering students from various universities and polytechnics such as the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike (MOUA) Abia State and the Federal Polytechnic Nekede, Owerri as well as some students from technical colleges.
“I have contributed my quota towards the development of our country because students from all over the country come here and receive training free of charge. And from manufacturing of cars, we have started manufacturing other products such as electric gates, kitchen units, phone charging machines etc,” he said.
Apart from EJAAS, Akwiwu said, that the company has established “Ephraim Akwiwu Foundation”, saying that “as a multi brand workshop, which produced the 2016 IYI Combatant car, the second version or model of Combatant in 2017, EJAAS is working to complete IYI
Celebrity car, one better than its 2016 and combatant products”.
Iwuanyanwu, the deputy speaker of the House of Assembly (representing Nwangele constituency), who spoke along with his Owerri West counterpart, commended Akwiwu for his ingenuity and dexterity in the promotion of indigenous technology and youth empowerment, promising that the State House of Assembly would not allow this to end in vain.
“Some of us went into politics to encourage and to promote a situation like this and the State House of Assembly will get in touch with the State Ministry of Science and Technology to move this company forward,” the deputy speaker said.
Some of the students being trained by the company, who spoke to Business A.M., expressed gratitude to Akwiwu for engaging them in the company and enriching their knowledge in technology.