The Chairman/CEO of Innoson Group, manufacturers of Innoson Vehicles, Chief Dr. Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma has, on Tuesday, October 11, been conferred with the rank of Commander of the Order of the Niger (CON) awards by President Muhammadu Buhari.
Chief Chukwuma was conferred with the awards at the 2022 National Honours Awards held in the International Conference Center (ICC) in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory.
About Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma (Innoson)
Chief Dr. Innocent Chukwuma OFR, born on Oct 1, 1960, has previously received two National Honours Awards under Late President Umaru Yardua (GCFR) when he was conferred with the rank of Officer on the Order of Niger (OON) and also during the administration of President Goodluck Jonathan (GCFR) when he was conferred with the rank of Officer of the Federal Republic (OFR).
Dr Chukwuma is also one of the privileged recipient of the Nigeria Centenary Honour Award coffered on him by the then President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR in recognition of his role as the first indigenous local vehicle manufacturer in Nigeria and employer of labour in March 2014 during the Centenary Celebrations.
Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma, popularly known as Innoson is the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Group. Innoson Vehicles Manufacturing, a subsidiary company under the Innoson Group located in Nnewi, Anambra State is the first wholly indigenous vehicle manufacturing company in Africa with an installed capacity to produce about 60,000 vehicles per annum.
Its sister company, Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Ltd., where some of the plastic components of Innoson Vehicles are produced, is reputed to be largest plastic manufacturing company in West Africa with over 150 lines of products.
Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma is the Chancellor of Imo State University and a recipient of about Seven (7) Honorary Doctorate Degrees from different Institutions, which includes Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Kaduna, University of Nigeria Nsukka, University of Calabar, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Enugu State University, Bells University Ota Ogun State, Wellspring University Edo State etc.
He is a man endowed with high business acumen that dazed his contemporaries when he became the first private Nigerian to locally assemble and subsequently manufacture motorcycles as well as vehicles in Nigeria.
Through his ingenuity he transformed a small trading business (Innoson Nig Ltd.) which he started in 1981 after his apprenticeship, to a corporate organization of international repute, known as IVM Innoson Group with six subsidiary companies.
For his philanthropy and Excellence in business, Chief Chukwuma has been honoured with hundreds of awards and recognitions from the federal and state government, academic institutions, media, professional and business organisations, etc.
Chief Dr Innocent Chukwuma (CON) is happily married and blessed with children.