Recently, Nigeria Auto Journalists Association hosted its annual Awards night and dinner at the prestigious Eko Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a night of award Harvest. While Hyundai Nigeria’s Creta clichéd the night’s major crown, Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) left with two chunky awards: Pick-up of the Year and Mini bus of the Year.
This year’s NAJA awards cut across the lubricant, tyre, auto insurance as well as automotive sub-sectors.
The award night which had the director general of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) , Aliyu Jelani and the representative of the Corp Marshal of the Federal Roads Safety Corps (FRSC) as special guests was well attended by many chief executives and other stakeholders in the nation’s automotive sector..
In the Luxury Car of The Year, Mercedes Benz S-class emerged winner ahead of BMW 7-series while the Luxury SUV of the Year award went to Range rover Autobiography.
Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hiace clinched the Pick-up of the Year award and Mini Bus of the Year awards respectively.
Indigenous Lubricant of the year went to Lubcon, just as Ceat smiled home with the Tyre brand of the year.
Also Massilia was named as the Most Improved Showroom jand Light Duty Truck of the year and JAC T6 winning Value for money in the Pick-up segment, AIICO won the Auto Insurance Company of the year,among others.
While the Yutong bus won the High Capacity Commercial Passenger Bus of the year, the JAC truck won the Heavy Duty Truck of the year. Both are assembled in Nigeria by Kojo Motors and Lanre Shittu Motors respectively.
In his welcome speech, Mike Ochonma, the newly elected Chairman of NAJA, said that NAJA award is the most prestigious and only recognized auto award in the country.
Stating that awards is the only recognised award nationally and internationally, and that the winners were arrived at after an exhaustive, but objective evaluation of competitors in each of the categories
He said that, the award winners which was arrived at through members’ votes, will among other things, provide consumers with sound, comparative information on vehicles that are new to the market.
According to Moses Ebosele, Chairman of the Award Committee, the annual event always provides an opportunity for all stakeholders in the sector to come together to celebrate and exchange ideas especially in the areas of manufacturing, efficiency, innovation and corporate social responsibility.
In his response, managing director of Stallion Motors Nigeria Limited (HMNL), Parvir Singh thanked the organisers for putting up the award and for finding the Hyundai Creta worthy for the COTY award.
He promised that the company will continue to uphold the integrity which the company has been known for, while contributing positively for the Nigeria Auto industry.
Also, Corporate Affairs Manager of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), Mrs Bukola Ogunnusi expressed appreciation for the myriad of awards given to TNL for 2018.
| THE ROLL CALL | |||||||||
| Award | Winners | ||||||||
| Car of the Year | Hyundai Creta | ||||||||
| Luxury Car of the Year | Mercedes Benz S Class | ||||||||
| Luxury SUV of the Year | Range Rover Autobiography | ||||||||
| High Capacity Commercial Passenger Bus of the year | Yutong bus | ||||||||
| Heavy Duty Truck of the year | JAC truck | ||||||||
| Most Innovative Auto Company | Massilia | ||||||||
| Light Duty Truck of the year | Mitsubishi Fuso Canter | ||||||||
| Value for Money | JAC T6 | ||||||||
| Auto Insurance Company of the year | AIICO | ||||||||
| Toyota Hilux | Pick-up of the Year | ||||||||
| Toyota Hiace | Mini Bus of the Year awards | ||||||||
| Indigenous Lubricant of the year | Lubcon, | ||||||||
| Best New Entrant Lubricant | Micking Oil | ||||||||
| Tyre brand of the year | Ceat | ||||||||
| Auto Assembly Plant of the Year | PAN Nigeria Limited | ||||||||
