Toyota Nigeria Limited’s 2016 awards night was filled with laughter, glamour, surprises and emotions, writes FEMI OWOEYE with reports from ROTIMI ASHER
[dropcap]L[/dropcap]ast week Thursday night was colourful at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos. It was a night of Toyota. The colour was red, glittering and glamorous. Two categories of awards were planned for the night.
But Chief Ade-Ojo, Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited had to amend the programme. For Francis Akingbemi, a talented music artist without legs, stole the show. With his incredible performance, most guests were held spell bound. Even Chief Ade-Ojo was so amazed that he rose to his feet, taking pictures of the miracle on stage.
After handing out other planned awards, the TNL chairman invited Akingbemi back to the stage. Shaking his hand warmly, Chief Ade-Ojo held him close to himself and said: “For not allowing your disability to hinder you from being useful to the society, I hereby award you a sum of N1 million.”
After receiving the special award, the Cameroon-born disable artist, who hails from Ilaje in Ondo State, told Motoring World International he was full of gratitude to TNL. He vowed to use the awarded sum to buy for himself a Toyota car.
“I know it won’t get me a brand new car,” he noted, “but I will make sure I buy a Tokunbo (imported used) Toyota car with the money.”
Meanwhile, the main highlight of the night was recognition and reward of Toyota top grade customers and top single customers, known as the evergreen customer of the year, who purchased the highest number of Toyota vehicles from accredited dealers in the past one year.
The Department of Petroleum Resources won the Customer of the year award with an attached prize of N2 million Naira.
While First Bank Nigeria Plc clinched Evergreen Customer of the year award, first runner up of Customer of the year, Nestle Foods Nigeria Plc was rewarded with N1.5 million and Lagos State Government, N1 million.
Also Motoring journalist award category was won by Mr. Rasheed Bisiriyu of The Punch newspaper. And Theodore Okpara of Vanguard Newspaper as well as Mike Ochonma of Businessday became first and second runner up respectively.
In his address at the occasion, Chief Ade-Ojo dedicated the company’s model success of 2015 to Toyota customers across the country.
He said: “We dedicate our model success of the year under review to our customers, for believing in us, even when it was becoming increasingly difficult thing to do. We also give kudos to our dealers for their professional conducts in dedication to business ethics and integrity. I also want to thank the motoring journalists for partnering with us in developing a robust automobile industry by consistently and objectively reporting the industry and Toyota activities.”
TNL chairman used the occasion to formerly announce the birth of Toyota’s first ever assembly plant in Nigeria as well as arrival of Toyota Conquest, which according to him, showed a sign of instant success on arrival.
“In view of unalloyed support we have received from our customers over the years,” Chief Ade-Ojo said, “it is only logical that we continue to offer superior quality products that will give you value for your money and excellent customer service in our latest offerings. This we will continue to do, notwithstanding the increasingly difficult circumstances in the country.”
With deep sense of satisfaction, the TNL chairman announced the status of the newly introduced Conquest.
“In fact, the first 100 that came in were sold the very first week they entered the country,” he announced. “This model is affordable and yet it carries the characteristics of Toyota DNA of unmatched quality.”
In his address, the Managing Director of TNL, Mr. Kunle Ade-Ojo painted a challenging picture of the year 2015.
“The year 2015 was unsteadily challenging,” he recalled. “However, we managed to get through it and at the end of the day we are celebrating. Though, the probability of micro economic indices was alarmingly frightening, the pretentious auto policy did not help matters either.
“Inspite of all these, Toyota was able to retain its position as the undisputable number one auto brand in the country.’
”As we match on in the New Year, we will draw inspiration from our achievement of last year and confidently pursue our goals. We remain resolute in our proposition in 2016 and beyond. We have already started, because in the first two month of the year, we have further differentiated ourselves from our competitors and striving stronger by the day.”
The occasion attracted dignitaries’ from all walks of life and the motoring press. It was a night, when deserving guests went home with awards of various categories; a night, when all guests had laughter pasted on their faces, thanks to spices of jokes from guest comedian and MC of the occasion. A night of wining and dining it was.
[highlight]Posted by: Motoring World On:March 21st, 2016 In:Events[/highlight]
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