Ukorebi Esien | July 21, 2025
CALABAR - The Cross River State Government, through the Office of the Special Adviser on Local Content, has secured a strategic partnership with one of Nigeria's leading conglomerates, the Innoson Group of Companies, to invest in youth development across key sectors such as automobile production, agriculture, and Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) infrastructure.
This was disclosed by the Special Adviser to Governor Bassey Edet Otu on Local Content, Ambassador Awatt Caleb, during a courtesy visit to the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Cross River State Council, Comrade Archibong Bassey, at the Ernest Etim Bassey Press Centre in Calabar on Monday.
According to Amb. Caleb, the partnership followed a recent official visit to Dr. Innocent Chukwuma, Chairman of the Innoson Group, at his residence in Nnewi, Anambra State. During the visit, Dr. Chukwuma expressed strong interest in extending the operations of Innoson to Cross River State, with a focus on youth training, automobile production, and agricultural investment.
"The governor is my friend. I'm ready to extend Innoson's operations to Cross River. Let's start with training your youths and setting up production in Tinapa," Dr. Chukwuma was quoted as saying.
Amb. Caleb who expressed gratitude to governor Out for facilitating the visit, explained that Innoson Group has indicated willingness to establish a Compressed Natural Gas station in the state and collaborate with local government councils to invest in commercial rice farming. The company will also supply improved rice seedlings capable of maturing within 3 to 6 months, a development expected to boost food production and agribusiness in the state.
He further revealed that the company plans to introduce CNG-powered vehicles, electric cars, and a rubber-to-tyre industrial value chain in Cross River. To this end, the company has requested detailed data on the state's rubber output for both export and local processing.
"This partnership is in line with Governor Otu's 'People First' agenda, which is committed to moving beyond policy statements to concrete actions that generate jobs and drive industrial growth. We are deliberately taking steps to open Cross River to real investments," Caleb said.
He also announced that Innoson has pledged to subsidize vehicle prices for Cross River indigenes, especially transport operators, to enhance affordability and support micro-enterprises.
Importantly, the Special Adviser assured that the selection process for the youth training programme will be strictly merit-based and free from political interference. "We want to be clear, the selection of participants will not be based on politics but on competence and genuine interest," he stressed.
Amb. Caleb, who was accompanied by retired army officer Akiba and other officials, noted that the delegation was also taken on a comprehensive tour of Innoson's state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, where diesel, electric, and CNG vehicles are produced.
A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Cross River State Government and Innoson Group is expected to be signed soon to formalize the collaboration.
As part of broader plans to reposition the state's economy, the Special Adviser also disclosed that the government will host a Local Content Summit in October 2025, targeting professionals and investors from the Cross River diaspora. The summit aims to galvanize local expertise and investments for sustainable development.
"This is a defining moment for Cross River. With partnerships like this, we're not just talking, we're building a future where our youths are trained, empowered, and meaningfully engaged," Caleb concluded.
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