Always tell your story.

So few days ago, 27th June, 2018, the story broke that the country aiming to be the Singapore of Africa aka Rwanda had commissioned a…

So few days ago, 27th June, 2018, the story broke that the country aiming to be the Singapore of Africa aka Rwanda had commissioned a Volkswagen plant and the very first Volkswagen car assembled in Rwanda was rolling off the plant. See pictures;

But that’s not what this post is about. Its about something much deeper. When the story broke on twitter NG, Nigerians (including me) expressed their disappointments about how such progress wasn't happening in Nigeria in 2018. It turns out we just didnt know. Special Adviser to the Nigerian President Tolu Ogunlesi tweeted yesterday about such similar progress in Nigeria. Apparently, they had happened way ahead of Rwanda;

July 13, 2015 — Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that Honda began local production of the Accord sedan on July 10, 2015 in Nigeria. This new plant is Honda’s first automobile production plant in Africa.

2015: Volkswagen reopens assembly plant in Nigeria after 20 years.

2016: Toyota Nig unveiling of its first locally-assembled vehicle in Lagos, a Hiace bus.

2017: Ford inaugurates N5bn vehicle assembly plant in Lagos.

According to Tolu Ogunlesi;

The Volkswagen plant (run by Stallion Motors, and renamed VON Automobiles) in 2015. At the time; they were already doing about a thousand cars a month (SKD and CKD Volkswagen, Nissan, Hyundai), and 50–70 trucks (BRT buses, & Troop Carriers for the Military). The Twitter NG comments (largely disparaging) that followed the news of Rwanda’s VW plant suggest that Nigerians often (not always) — have no idea what’s really going on in their country. The fault might be the media’s. Or people generally just don’t care.

So why haven't the price of new cars gone down since we have assembly plants in Nigeria? Mr. Tolu Ogunlesi provides an opinion:

“The real problem with vehicle assembly in Nigeria is not the assembly but the sales. Without affordable vehicle financing there can be no real growth/scale. No one should have to buy cars cash-down or at 20% interest. Also needed: new cars that can rival Tokunbo for cost.”

Why is this story important? If we dont keep records of these things and keep sharing this progress (albeit small and sometimes relative), we would keep making such largely disparaging comments about our lives, careers and country and continually get hopelessly frustrated. Share your progress and tell your story, always.

I am writing this article for myself as well for future references.