A 28-year-old Nigerian, Jerry Issac Mallo, has written his name in the annals of history after manufacturing Nigeria and West Africa’s first luxury sports car.
Jerry Mallo who is a fabrication engineer and Chief Executive Officer of Bennie Technologies LTD reportedly started making toy cars with trash at a tender age.
He built his first ‘life-size’ car out of trash as a secondary school student at age 18.
The Plateau-born man studied Engineering at the University of Hertfordshire, UK via a scholarship after his primary and secondary education in Plateau as an art student.
Jerry Mallo however cut short his studies in the UK to Nigeria to take to manufacturing cars.
He asserted at the time that Africa is endowed with the required raw materials for the production of cars.
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The innovative engineer made his mark in November 2019, when he unveiled the Bennie Purrie, Nigeria’s first luxury sports car.
The car was designed with carbon fibre to provide it with a ‘robust safety quality’.
Asides from his automotive product, Jerry Mallo has also manufactured Nigeria’s first homemade ventilator used in the fight against Covid-19.
As per Moyyero, Jerry Mallo explained that people get crushed in cars during accidents because such cars were made “from aluminum or galvanized sheets that cannot absorb shocks at high speed.”
He reportedly also owns a company that makes agricultural machines.
FAQs about first locally made carbon‑fibre sports car, made by a young Nigerian man:
Who built Nigeria’s first locally made sports car and what is it called?
It was designed and built by Jerry Isaac Mallo, a fabrication engineer and CEO of Bennie Technologies Ltd. The vehicle is called the Bennie Purrie and was unveiled in November 2019 in Abuja.
What are the key specifications of the Bennie Purrie?
Built with a carbon‑fibre body (stronger and lighter than steel or aluminum)
Based on a tubular chassis for better handling on Nigerian roads
Powered by a 2.0‑litre engine delivering about 130 hp, with a 0–120 km/h in 12 seconds acceleration
Equipped with four radiators to handle extreme temperatures.
Why did Mallo pursue building a car locally?
Mallo cited two main motivations:
To demonstrate that Nigeria and Africa possess the raw materials and skills to build high-quality vehicles locally
To create a platform for practical skill development, since he felt Nigeria favours theory over hands-on craftsmanship.
Is the Bennie Purrie available for sale yet?
No—Mallo emphasized it remains in the research and demonstration stage as of its unveiling. He indicated it might be ready for commercialisation in about two years, assuming support and funding are available.
Has Nigeria produced other home‑grown cars before?
Yes—before Bennie Purrie, the Izuogu Z‑600, conceived by engineer Ezekiel Izuogu in 1997, was an indigenous prototype using locally made 90% components. It was a utilitarian car built with a local engine and even used a door‑bell for a horn. However, it never moved into mass production due to financial and political setbacks