By Tata Mbunwe
Cameroonian welder Eric Jaidzeka, 36, has tested the second tricycle, commonly called “keke”, manufactured at his Erico Metals factory in Douala, the country’s economic capital.
When he completes the one he is building now, it will make three the number of tricycles he has made since 2022, when he added tricycles to the list of several motorbikes he has manufactured.
“I have produced two already and working on number three at the moment. I started making them last year. I only produce them on command, but as for general motorcycles, I started in 2016 way back in Kumbo, my home town in Nso,” he said.
A welder and maker of general agricultural machines, Eric Jaidzeka made his first automobile in 2016.
Then, his factory was based in Kumbo, a conflict-hit town in the Northwest Region where he comes from.
Due to the ongoing armed conflict, he had to suspend work and relocate his factory and family to Douala.
In Douala, he is closer to the raw materials as well as the market for his products.
Jaidzeka uses general iron sourced from metal factories in Douala and then buys tires, engines and other spare parts, which he cannot manufacture, from local Chinese shops.
“The various machines produced in my workshop are general agricultural machines, and for automobiles, I produce chopper luxury motorcycles and commercial motorcycles like tricycles and normal taxis, aka achaba or benskin,” he said.
One of his products is a concrete mixer he manufactured in 2021. All the products he makes are not new in Cameroon, but the difference is that his are made are home and by a Cameroonian.
Cameroon totally depends on imports when it comes to agricultural machinery and automobiles like motobikes and tricycles.
But with technicians like Eric Jaidzeka, there is hope the country will very soon stop relying on foreign machinery.
Homemade are more durable
Jaidzeka said there has been a very ready market for all the machines and automobiles he made because of their durability.
When he spoke to us last week, he was working on his third tricycle, which had been ordered by someone who had experienced his earlier products.
“There is a ready market. As a matter of fact, the three I already made was based on command. It’s with certainty that the demand will be above my capacity because mine are 10 times more durable than the Chinese ones in the market,” he said.
The prices of his tricycles differ based on the engine capacity and the design. Averagely, one could cost 1,700,000 francs, he said.
Space is my biggest challenge
Jaidzeka has been operating in a small roadside structure that he says is highly inadequate for his heavy tasks.
Operating in a city of over 1 million people, the security of his products is not guaranteed because he has no place to keep them.
It is also difficult for him to expand his industry as demand for his products increases.
“Being an IDP you can imagine. I need a bigger warehouse and bigger workshop that I can have enough space to store goods and with enough security,” he said.
Space was never a problem when he was in Kumbo. Back then, he used to organise free training sessions for several young people who wanted to learn the skill.
But today, he can only train a very limited number. If supported with finance and a bigger space, Jaidzeka said he could produce far more than he already does.
For any support, recommendations, you may reach out to him via this number: +237 6 77 19 28 72.
His Email: ericometalone@gmail.com
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