Yaji

Enugu State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Mr. Chuks Ugwoke handing over the key of a brand new Ford Explorer SUV to the Ultimate Man 2008, Mike Nwachukwu

(UI), who beat nine others to unearth the 'Lost Chronicle' at Awgu Hills, Enugu state. He remained the last man standing in the titanic search and was crowned the Gulder Ultimate Man of the year.

The Anambra state born hero, traded the 'Lost but found Chronicle' for the whooping grand prize of N7 million cash, N500,000 wardrobe allowance and a brand new SUV estimated to cost N10 million. The cheque presentation for the cash prize was made by the Sales Director of NB Plc; Dr. Oladele Ajayi, at a very colourful and well attended grand reception party for the heroes in Enugu.

The first runner-up prize of N2.5 million went to Frank Adamu Muhammed, a graduate of Business Administration from the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria while the 2nd runner-up prize of N1.5 million went to Linda Iweka. The 21 years old undergraduate of Computer Science from the University of Abuja, equally got N1 million extra from NB Plc; for emerging the Last Woman standing in the ultimate search while the Enugu state government swelled her purse with additional N1 million reward for her effort, bringing her total win to N3.5 million.

Other contestants in the gruesome three weeks search for the 'Lost Chronicle', eliminated or evicted at various stages of the competition also received their winning prizes as follow: Ruphina Ohakwe the Microbiology graduate of the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), was ranked next in the line up.

She got N750,000.00. The Akwa Ibom state born hero and Computer Science undergraduate of Oyo City Polytechnic, made a haul of N700,000 while Abigail Apuogulaya, (Cannery), undergraduate of Oceanography from the University of Calabar, collected N650,000. 'Sir' Fredrick Dutman, BSc. undergraduate of the University of Jos, Plateau state received N600,000.00. Ogun state born Abiola Olarewaju, a graduate now awaiting her Youth Service, went home with N550,000.

Twenty-five years old Brain Mokelu, undergraduate of Geography of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, got N500,000.00 while the "Little Pepeye' crooner of GUS V, Rita Uloko, who was first to crash out after a fall made away with N450,000.00. On the whole, over N28 million was splashed on the contestants, including the N1 million extra bonus for Linda, the last woman standing in the ultimate search by the Enugu State Government.

Commending the bold effort of the contestants and NB Plc; in hosting the GUS V in Awgu Hills, Enugu, the State Commissioner for Information and Culture and Tourism Mr. Chuks Ugwoke noted that the ultimate prize would have gone to no one but to whom the cap fit- "the man (Mike Nwachuku) that wears it".

He also praised the contestants for their discipline and humility during the search pointing out that even in the face of eviction they still remain humble to the presenter of the show, Bob-Manuel Udokwu.

"They should all go home with their heads tall" he said while announcing the N1 million donations by the state government for Linda, who emerged the Last Woman Standing in the epic battle for the lost chronicle.

Describing Enugu State as best in culture, the Commissioner reemphasized the Enugu State readiness to host the next National Festival For Arts and Culture in grand style this year.

Other dignitaries present at the grand reception party includes: the state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry Hon J. C. Ude, Special Assistant to the Governor, Hon Paul Nnajiofor, representative of the GOC 82 Div. Col J. S. Adamu, Enugu state Director of S. O. N; Mrs Vero Yaji, Chairman, Udi LGA, Dr. Malter Oji, Represented by the Secretary to the LGA Jude Okolo, NB Plc; Sales Director Dr. Oladele Ajayi, Human Resources Director, Mr. Paul Hamers,

Marketing Director Mr. Jacco Van Der Linden, Group Marketing Manager (Lager brands) Mr. Tony Agenmonmen who just celebrated his 70th birthday, Ama Brewery Manager, Mr. Alex Lowther,

National Trade Marketing Manager, Mr. Uche Unigwe, Brands Communications Manger, Edem Vinda, Senior Brand Manager, Gulder, Emmanuel Oriakhi and host of others.

The other is that he reinforced the popular belief that government has no business being in big business, by acquiring, about five years ago, the moribund Eastern Plastics Limited, Emene, near Enugu. He replaced the obsolete equipment and transformed the place into what is known today as Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited, which is believed to be one of the prime plastics factories in the West African sub-region.

In addition to motorcycle components, human plastic images, chairs cups and other household products, Innoson Technical pioneered the manufacturer of several plastic wares such as baby tricycle, meter box, and waste disposal system, some of which have at different times received quality standards, as well as being first choices in their various segments in the market.

Currently, the company revived in partnership with Chen Lun Yong, the Chinese technical partners, has an annual turnover of N3.6 billion. It was in recognition of the first-class quality of the plastic products, which Innoson Technical and Chukwuma were recently honoured, first, by the Commonwealth Business Council (CBC) and days later, by the Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), which conferred on them the MANCAP (Mandatory Conformity Assessment Programme) compliance award, particularly for the chairs, jerry cans and cups.

At a colourful presentation ceremony hosted by the plastics company, SON described the factory as the leader in the industry "both by quantity, quality and variety." This assessment was acknowledged by some of the key customers, especially exporters who use Innoson's plastic drums for exporting chemicals.

The Director General of SON, Dr John N. Akanya, who was represented at the ceremony by Mrs. Vera Yaji, said "the transformation of a moribund company to the giant we are witnessing here is most commendable". Yaji, who is the Enugu Zonal coordinator of SON, disclosed that the certificate was preceded by many years of evaluation which involved series of factory inspection visits to the company to ascertain that the quality of the products met specifications of Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).

"The serial inspection of the company culminates in the award of MANCAP certificate after satisfactory performance of the products. We want to commend your organisation for perseverance and tenacity towards achieving your set goal without compromising the quality even after this award ceremony," the Zonal Coordinator said.

Since going into production in 2002 after reviving the dilapidated Eastern Plastics, Innoson Technical has been producing a wide range of products, both for domestic and industrial uses. However, the plastic chairs are the flagship of the product range. The company management said the chairs which were tested by SON with an object weighing about 140 kg, resisted a heavier weight of over 200kg at the factory.

For many who ere at the event, it was not surprising therefore, that the plastic chairs led a trio of products that specifically earned the SON MANCAP certification. Others are jerry cans and cups, all of which, the Enugu Zonal Coordinator told the guests, met the requirements of NIS 494:2004, NIS 22:1974 and NIS 464:2004, respectively.

The Standards Organisation took particular note of Innoson's practice of boldly inscribing its name and trademark on all its products in accordance with quality standards requirements. This display of confidence contrasts with the action of some manufacturers who disguise their output, and thereby raising concerns over their genuineness. This prompted Yaji to stress that no good manufacturer wants to be identified with substandard products. "Traceability of a product source encourages quality output," she added.

Mrs. Yaji described it as "a journey without bus-stop" and gave insight into the MANCAP certification programme: "The process for the award involves performance tests before conformance certificate is issued. The certificate is renewable every three years subject to maintenance of specified quality requirements and continual existence of the product in the Nigerian system. The programme (MANCAP) is mandatory for all manufacturing companies in the country and all intending manufacturers are expected to comply before marketing their products to customers."

All locally made products which go through the MANCAP programme to earn the NIS mark of quality, according to SON, are accepted anywhere in the world while their manufacturers, as a result, attain world class status, where applicable. The certification scheme also ensures that sub-standard products in the market are identified and the factories they come from shut, SON said.

As expected, Innoson Technical felt pleased and motivated, an expression conveyed by Chukwuma. He commended SON for giving the certificate on merit and acknowledged the support of the Bank of Industry, as well as the hard work of the management and staff. "We have come a long way, from the initial 400 staff to the present 1,200 workforce, Innoson Technical and Industrial Company Limited is clearly the fastest growing industry with innovations in plastic products in Nigeria today," he said.

The company however identified poor power supply and the rising cost of diesel as "twin problems" that conspire to make running the factory a huge challenge. The government should, therefore, address the issues which it said, constituted a discouragement to the manufacturing sector.

Inevitably, the issue of security was also raised: "Only last year, two of our expatriate partners and a Nigerian were kidnapped from our new motor assembly plant in Nnewi. Till date, one of the expatriates has not been rescued. This is certainly a sad commentary on our national quest for indigenous manufacturing and industrialisation".

Chukwuma dedicated both the SON recognition and the earlier nomination for the CBC award for leading African entrepreneurs, to God, saying that he started from the first day he took over the Eastern Plastic, to lay the foundation for the manufacture of high quality plastic wares that would prove that Nigerian companies could make product that could beat the finish imports.

"The SON certificate is the fulfilment of our objective to always make product that are of high quality. At Innoson, we don't compromise quality at all. That is why our plastic products are number one in the market The reason Nigerians prefer foreign products is because of quality and reliability, but they now know that there are locally made products like Innoson plastics that are better than some imported products", Chukwuma said.

Director General and Chief Executive of SON, Dr John Akanya who stated this at the official presentation of the MANCAP certificate to Innoson Technical and Industrial Co. Ltd at Enugu, said the certified was normally issued to manufacturers after series of factory inspection visits had been made to ascertain that the quality of the products met specifications of Nigerian Industrial Standards (NIS).

Akanya, who was represented by the Zonal Coordinator of the organization Vera Yaji, disclosed that locally manufactured products that had conformed to the relevant NIS are accepted anywhere in the world adding a strict enforcement of the standards was helping to promote healthy competition with imported goods as well creating more employment opportunities for the people.

The NIS mark of quality certification scheme, he said, also ensures that sub-standard products in the market were easily identified while the manufacturers of such products would have their factories shut down

"Please note that there is no short cut to the award of MANCAP certificate. The process for the award involves performance tests before conformance certificate is issued. The certificate is renewable on a three early basis subject to maintenance of specified quality requirements and continual existence of the product in the Nigerian system", Akanya explained.