Elder Joseph Akinwale hails from Ibule, a village reputable for cocoa production in Ondo State. After he graduated from
the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University ) in 1975, he took up a teaching appointment immediately, a
profession he wholeheartedly lived for until he finally retired in 2003.
Elder Akinwale was a fulfilled teacher, contented with his meagre salary from which he could not procure a car until twenty
years after he had been working. He never had any problem using his motor cycle, a Suzuki 125 model, which he bought
in 1985, ten years after he joined Ondo State Teaching Service Commission.
This does not mean Elder Akinwale was not in need of a car then. But his take-home pay could not take him home. So,
purchasing a car then was a dream far away to him and several millions, especially from the poor nations.
In 1990, he bought a Peugeot 404 secondhand car despite spending long years in service. It was a landmark success
before the villagers and his colleagues in the same service. But the car gave him terrible headache and he almost sold his
garments to maintain it due to all manners of faults the car developed. Yet, he continued in pains and agonies until the car
finally packed up.
This is the fate of several millions of people from developing countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia, Burma,
Cambodia, Nepal and Pakistan, among others. Several government workers in most of the countries mentioned cannot
afford a fairly used car, much less a new one, even though they have been in service for decades.
But relief may now come their way with the news emerging that Tata Motors, an Indian automobile giant, yesterday
unveiled the cheapest car in the history of auto industry.
If perhaps it was in the days of Elder Akinwale, he would have conveniently saved for one year or two to purchase and
save himself the burden of taking his family to church in batches.
This is one of the testimonies that may soon be in vogue as the Tata Nano is rolled out into the world market for the use of
average income earners, who cannot save millions of naira to buy exotic cars.
As British Broadcasting Corporation reported yesterday, Tata Motors unveiled Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car at
India's biggest car show in the capital, Delhi. Since the news filtered out, there has been excitement in all corners of the
developing world and hope boldly written in the faces of those who have been longing to drive brand new cars.
Tata Motors has made real their hope and aspiration as a level 8 officer in Nigeria would only need about N300,000 to get
a brand new car. According to BBC, the vehicle, called the Tata Nano, will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (£1,277)
and enable those in developing countries to move to four wheels.
When converted, Tata Nano is just N288,000 (customs duties may jerk it up a little when it lands in Nigeria), the sum of
money an average income earner in public and private sectors can save within some months to get this offer for himself or
herself. Thanks to Tata Motors, an automobile giant bringing hope when hope seems to have been lost.
Tata Nano is a four-door five-seater car, which goes on sale later this year. It has a 33bhp, 624cc engine at the rear. It has
no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.
According to reports, Tata will initially make about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of one million
cars.
the University of Ife (now Obafemi Awolowo University ) in 1975, he took up a teaching appointment immediately, a
profession he wholeheartedly lived for until he finally retired in 2003.
Elder Akinwale was a fulfilled teacher, contented with his meagre salary from which he could not procure a car until twenty
years after he had been working. He never had any problem using his motor cycle, a Suzuki 125 model, which he bought
in 1985, ten years after he joined Ondo State Teaching Service Commission.
This does not mean Elder Akinwale was not in need of a car then. But his take-home pay could not take him home. So,
purchasing a car then was a dream far away to him and several millions, especially from the poor nations.
In 1990, he bought a Peugeot 404 secondhand car despite spending long years in service. It was a landmark success
before the villagers and his colleagues in the same service. But the car gave him terrible headache and he almost sold his
garments to maintain it due to all manners of faults the car developed. Yet, he continued in pains and agonies until the car
finally packed up.
This is the fate of several millions of people from developing countries such as Nigeria, Liberia, Ethiopia, Burma,
Cambodia, Nepal and Pakistan, among others. Several government workers in most of the countries mentioned cannot
afford a fairly used car, much less a new one, even though they have been in service for decades.
But relief may now come their way with the news emerging that Tata Motors, an Indian automobile giant, yesterday
unveiled the cheapest car in the history of auto industry.
If perhaps it was in the days of Elder Akinwale, he would have conveniently saved for one year or two to purchase and
save himself the burden of taking his family to church in batches.
This is one of the testimonies that may soon be in vogue as the Tata Nano is rolled out into the world market for the use of
average income earners, who cannot save millions of naira to buy exotic cars.
As British Broadcasting Corporation reported yesterday, Tata Motors unveiled Tata Nano, the world's cheapest car at
India's biggest car show in the capital, Delhi. Since the news filtered out, there has been excitement in all corners of the
developing world and hope boldly written in the faces of those who have been longing to drive brand new cars.
Tata Motors has made real their hope and aspiration as a level 8 officer in Nigeria would only need about N300,000 to get
a brand new car. According to BBC, the vehicle, called the Tata Nano, will sell for 100,000 rupees or $2,500 (£1,277)
and enable those in developing countries to move to four wheels.
When converted, Tata Nano is just N288,000 (customs duties may jerk it up a little when it lands in Nigeria), the sum of
money an average income earner in public and private sectors can save within some months to get this offer for himself or
herself. Thanks to Tata Motors, an automobile giant bringing hope when hope seems to have been lost.
Tata Nano is a four-door five-seater car, which goes on sale later this year. It has a 33bhp, 624cc engine at the rear. It has
no air conditioning, no electric windows and no power steering, but two deluxe models will be on offer.
According to reports, Tata will initially make about 250,000 Nanos and expects eventual annual demand of one million
cars.
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