ROTIMI ASHER
Carloha Nigeria, the sole distributor and assembler of Chery vehicles in the country, has taken an innovative step toward staff development with the staging of its Emerging Leaders Football Tournament in Lagos.
The initiative, which blends sportsmanship with corporate strategy, is designed to identify, nurture, and prepare future leaders within the organisation.
This edition of the tournament featured a spirited contest between the company’s workshop and showroom teams, drawing participation from staff across various departments.
The match, played on Saturday, April 4, ended in a tense 1–1 draw at regulation time, but the showroom team eventually emerged victorious to lift the trophy.
The event attracted a wide audience, including the Chief Executive Officer of Carloha Nigeria, Mr. Liang Long, members of management, junior staff, and representatives of the media.
Speaking after the match, the General Manager, Marketing, Mr. Taiwo Akinpelu, said the tournament goes beyond recreation, positioning it as a deliberate investment in human capital development.
According to him, Carloha is committed to grooming a new generation of leaders by equipping employees with essential interpersonal, leadership, and team-building skills.
“We want to nurture future leaders, empower them, and equip them with the skills required not just for work, but for collaboration and leadership,” Akinpelu said.
He noted that football was deliberately chosen as the platform for this initiative due to its unifying power in Nigeria and across the world.
“Football is a sport that brings people together—across cultures, departments, and hierarchies. It creates a level playing field where everyone can connect, compete, and collaborate. That’s exactly the environment we want to create within our organisation,” he added.
Akinpelu emphasized that the tournament provided an opportunity for employees from different units, including showroom, warehouse, and workshop teams. to interact outside the formal work setting, thereby strengthening internal relationships.
“In this kind of setting, there are no bosses. Everyone is equal on the field. You could even see that the CEO joined in the game earlier. That tells you the kind of inclusive culture we are building,” he said.
Beyond fostering camaraderie, the event also encouraged healthy competition and resilience-qualities the company considers critical for leadership development.
The marketing boss further revealed that the tournament is an annual event, strategically scheduled around April, a period he described as symbolic.
“This season represents renewal and new beginnings. It coincides with the onset of rains, and this year, it also aligns with Ramadan and Easter—periods that reflect reflection and rejuvenation. So, it’s the perfect time to refresh our team and prepare for the challenges ahead,” he explained.
With the success of this year edition, Carloha Nigeria appears set to deepen its commitment to staff engagement and leadership development, using innovative platforms like sports to drive corporate growth from within.
©Copyright MOTORING WORLD INTERNATIONAL. All rights reserved. Materials, photographs, illustrations and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior written permission from Motoring World International
Contact: editor.motoringworldng@motoringworldng.com
