E-mail LOGIN
Home Page Image

 


 

THE ESAMA OF BENIN KINGDOM

 


 

 

The Great Life of A Pioneer

Igbinedion as a Benin family name is now a household word. It has become synonymous with Aviation, Industry, Education, Finance, Medical Care and Rural Development at local, national and international levels. The man who has made this possible in Africa is Sir (Dr.) Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion, the Esama of Benin Kingdom.

Chief Igbinedion has attained great heights in life reminiscent of great achievers. He is a philanthropist and and a humanist of national dimensions and an industrialist of international fame...read on

 


THE BIRTH OF A DREAM

FROM HUMBLE BEGINNING TO AFFLUENCE


'''''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.

 

...READ ON

 

:: BUSINESS AT A GLANCE

 


 
   
THE BIOGRAPHY OF CHIEF GABRIEL OSAWARU IGBINEDION

 
IGBINEDION AS TRADITIONAL CHIEF AND FAMILY MAN

   
IGBINEDION AND PHILANTHROPISM

   
HONOURING THE HONOURABLE- CHIEF IGBINEDION WINS AWARDS

   
IGBINEDION AND SOCIETY AT LARGE

   
IGBINEDION- THE PHILOSOPHICAL PERSPECTIVE

 
CHIEF IGBINEDION'S PICTURE GALLERY

 
CHIEF IGBINEDION'S APPOINTMENT AS PATRON AND GRAND PATRON

 

 

A great son of Africa who has become a towering international success. This is the powerful moving biography of one man's determination to win- H. R. H. Oba Lamidi Adeyemi lll, The Alaafin of Oyo
 
 
 
 
This remarkable biography weaves the story of an endlessly fascinating man, his family and business empire- Dr. Brian Aghedo PhD
 
 
 
 
Do you have what it takes to be an industrialist, businessman and philanthropist? Chief Gabriel Osawaru Igbinedion's life story tell how, withouth mortaginng your soul- Chief Pearnel Charles, Jamaica
 
 
 
 
Sir Igbinedion is a great man of trmemendous and unqualified resources. His humility and great service to humanity coupled with his willingness to help the less-privileged has earned him respect and admiration the world over- Prince Abubakar Audu, former executive governor of Kogi State, Nigeria.
 
 
 
 
Igbinedion does not believe in failure, he says, "don't be afraid, everyone has them and sometimes they can be resurrected with resounding success- Alfred Eghobamien Esq.SAN

Afew Acknowledgement of Chief Igbinedion's Sense of Philanthropy


Copyright 2009 @ Igbinedion.net | The Esame of Benin City. Web Enquiries: webmaster@igbinedion.net