'''''Cont'd

neighbouring countries, notably Ghana, Cameroun, Sierra Leone and Cote d'Ivoire with the products of his company; and they in turn requested for Hino vehicles to be sold in their countries, urging the management of the company to work out the modalities for the development of such international business.

Chief Igbinedion and government officials inspecting Mid Motors (Nig.) Limited's first indigenous motor assembly plant in Nigeria

Admittedly, not all of these business strategies yielded the anticipated dividends. Nonetheless, Mid-Motors vehicle assembly efforts soon led to the expansion of its endeavours with the establishment of another motor assembly plant in Kano and a sales sub-agency in Onitsha. What was important, in this case, was the business method adopted by the Managing Director of the young company. The success story which accrued from this, again showed that Mr. Igbinedion was destined for great heights.

In August 1973, Mr. Igbinedion took another step towards the development of the motor vehicle industry in Nigeria when he signed a half million naira vehicle assembly agreement with the Marco Polo S.A. Company of Brazil represented by Messrs. Jose Martins and Gomes Printo.

The Managing Director of Mid-Motors Nigerian Company Limited, Mr Gabriel O. Igbinedion (right) signing the MARCOPOLO agreement. Also signing is Mr. Walter Pinto (left) while Mr. Jose Martins 9centre) watches carefully

The assembly plant also sited as a unit of the Mid-Motors vehicle assembly factory in Benin Cityassembled and distributed Brazilian made luxury Marco Polo buses in Nigeria. Within a space of two months, the Managing Director of Mid-Motors went into another agreement, this time, on vehicle distribution, with Chrysler Inter­national in London, to distribute the Chrysler range of products including Avenger, Hillman, Hunter Puma, Humber Sceptre, Simcar, Rapier, etc. Signing the agreement in London with the representatives of Chrysler Company, Dierk Helberg and D. Beaumont, Mr. Igbinedion gave the reasons for his involvement in the vehicle assembly and distributive trade, particularly in the distribution of Chrysler products which he said was "within reach of the average car user as it combines elegance, durability and adaptation to our road conditions".

True to Mr. Igbinedion's expectations, the Chrysler range of cars sold relatively cheaply and was quite reliable even under the hard conditions of the Nigerian roads. The initial problem as regards spare parts was soon solved with the massive importation of the items into the country, by the Mid-Motors Company. Again this reflected the effective and mature business sense of the Managing Director. A contributor to this biography who incidentally owned an Avenger car between 1974 and 1977 and who has bought and used other brands of cars since then, holds the view that "the Avenger car was and remain one of the best he has had from the point of view of comfort, durability and ruggedness", the qualities sustained over the years mainly as a result of the business ethics of the pioneer importing company, the Mid-Motors Company.

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:: BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

CONCLUSION

This website has attempted to unfold Chief Osawaru Igbinedion from the cradle to manhood and from a humble beginning to a position of enermous affluence...READ ON