Expectations High as 2025 NAJA Awards Hold Tuesday December 16 in Lagos

Expectations High as 2025 NAJA Awards Hold Tuesday December 16 in Lagos

All is set for the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards, scheduled for Tuesday, December 16, at the Oriental Hotel, Lagos.

Widely regarded within the motoring community as the “Oscars” of Nigeria’s automotive industry, the annual ceremony will bring together leading auto brands, regulators, distributors, innovators and mobility stakeholders for an evening of recognition and industry reflection.

Three finalists shortlisted for the 2025 Car-of-the-Year award are Changan CS55, Jetour Dashing, and Chery Tiggo 8 Pro, all Chinese products, signaling a strong rise for the Chinese brands in the country.

Speaking ahead of the event, Chairman of the NAJA Awards Organising Committee, Frank Kintum, described the 2025 edition as “a defining moment for Nigeria’s auto industry,” noting that competition this year is among the strongest in recent times.

“The industry has seen notable shifts over the past year—from the growth of electric mobility to new product launches and deeper investment in after-sales service. This year’s awards will reflect those milestones and honour the individuals and organisations driving the change,” Kintum said in a statement.

He stressed that beyond celebrating winners, the awards provide a platform for engagement, idea exchange and spotlighting innovations shaping mobility in Nigeria.

High-profile dignitaries expected at the event include the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, and the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin.

Organisers say their presence underscores the event’s growing relevance to national road safety, automotive policy and the future of local vehicle manufacturing.

READ ALSO:

• Tinubu’s new tax regime as sovereignty for sale, By Farooq Kperogi
• FG Opens 47km Lagos–Calabar Coastal Highway Section to Ease Yuletide Traffic
• Expectations High as 2025 NAJA Awards Hold Tuesday December 16 in Lagos

“The participation of FRSC and NADDC leadership reinforces our shared commitment to safer roads, stronger regulation and the growth of Nigeria’s domestic auto industry,” Kintum added.

Senior executives from major automotive and mobility companies have also confirmed attendance. They include Toyota Nigeria, Coscharis Motors, Weststar Associates (Mercedes-Benz), Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM), Carloha Nigeria, Briscoe Motors, Jet Systems, SAGLEV Electric Vehicles, Stallion Group, Industrial Project International (IPI), Dangote Sinotruk West Africa, Jetour Auto, GUO Motors, CEDRIC and JeGo Electric Mobility, among others.

This year’s awards will recognise excellence across key performance areas such as innovation, customer service, vehicle safety, sustainable mobility, commercial vehicle leadership, after-sales service and local manufacturing.

Electric vehicle manufacturers and mobility technology startups—among the fastest-growing segments of the industry—are also expected to feature prominently as Nigeria gradually shifts toward cleaner, technology-driven transport solutions.

According to Kintum, the fierce competition among brands reflects an auto market increasingly shaped by new mobility technologies, expanding local assembly and rising customer expectations.

NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara noted that the awards had become an important benchmark for industry performance.

“The NAJA Awards continue to spotlight best practices and raise standards across the sector, pushing brands to improve on safety, service delivery, technology and customer satisfaction,” he said.

As stakeholders converge on Lagos, the 2025 NAJA Awards are expected to go beyond honours and trophies—serving as a key platform for networking, policy dialogue and partnerships that could help shape the future of Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem.

Auto journalists, policymakers, brand executives and mobility entrepreneurs are expected at the ceremony, reinforcing its status as the country’s most prestigious annual gathering for the automotive industry.

 

Expectations High as 2025 NAJA Awards Hold Tuesday December 16 in Lagos