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.

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• 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

NADDC, FRSC Chiefs headline high-stake 2025 NAJA Auto Awards

The Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Chief Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, and the Corps Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Shehu Mohammed, have confirmed their attendance at the 2025 Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) International Auto Awards scheduled for 6 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos.

Their participation reinforces the rising influence of the NAJA Awards—widely regarded as the country’s most credible platform for recognising excellence, innovation, and leadership in the automotive industry.

Osanipin, a key advocate for strengthened local assembly and accelerated electric mobility adoption, is expected to interact with stakeholders and share insights on the NADDC’s long-term industry roadmap. Earlier at the Abuja International Motor Fair, he assured a NAJA delegation led by Chairman Theodore Opara that he would not only attend but actively participate in the ceremony.

FRSC Corps Marshal Shehu Mohammed also confirmed his presence through a message to Opara, expressing enthusiasm about engaging industry leaders and pushing ongoing national road-safety campaigns.

This year’s event will bring together automakers, distributors, policymakers, and mobility experts at a time when Nigeria’s automotive landscape is being reshaped by new technologies, sustainability imperatives, and shifting regulatory frameworks.

Chairman of the Award Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said preparations were in top gear to sustain the event’s reputation as Nigeria’s “industry gold standard.”

“The NAJA Awards remain the benchmark for honouring brands, organisations, and individuals who consistently demonstrate innovation, integrity and excellence in advancing Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem. This edition will spotlight strides in local manufacturing, green mobility and policy development,” he said.

NAJA Chairman Opara added that the awards mirror the Federal Government’s industrialisation push.

“As the sector evolves, NAJA is committed to initiatives that promote sustainable growth,” he said. “We are especially pleased to have the NADDC as a central partner this year, given its strategic role in policy formulation and innovation.”

Meanwhile, anticipation is already mounting around the 2025 Nigeria Car-of-the-Year category, where three Chinese brands—Changan, Jetour and Chery—have emerged as unexpected frontrunners. Their shortlisted models—the Changan CS55, Jetour Dashing and Chery Tiggo 8—reflect the shifting dynamics of Nigeria’s highly competitive auto market.

“For the first time, Chinese manufacturers are not just competing; they are leading,” Opara said while unveiling the finalists. “The quality, technology and market acceptance shown by these brands demonstrate how quickly the industry is evolving.”

He noted that the committee emphasised innovation, durability, and suitability for Nigerian roads in selecting the finalists.

While the Car-of-the-Year contenders have been revealed, nominees in other categories—including local assembly, electrification, aftersales service, heavy-duty trucks, transport service and luxury mobility—will be announced in the coming days.

Kintum said the committee is “raising the bar again this year,” with the 2025 edition expected to reflect more advancements in electric vehicle rollout and expanded local assembly operations.

With top government officials, industry leaders and global automotive brands already confirmed, the 2025 NAJA Awards is shaping up to be one of the most defining editions in the event’s history.

The Federal Executive Council has part of broader industrial and automotive sector reforms, approved the purchase of 200 electric buses for the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).

The approval was announced on Wednesday by the Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Senator John Enoh, while briefing State House correspondents after the FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu in Abuja.

“The first memo that was considered and approved was the award of a contract for the supply of 200 units of electric buses at the cost of N58 billion for the National Automotive Design and Development Council,” Enoh said.

He explained that the project aligns with the administration’s strategy to strengthen Nigeria’s automotive ecosystem while promoting cleaner energy solutions and industrial expansion.

Nigeria industrial policy 2025 approved

Enoh described the approval of the Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025 as the most consequential outcome of the FEC meeting.

“The Nigeria Industrial Policy 2025 was finally approved today, and it provides the framework that will guide industrial growth and development,” he said.

He noted that the absence of an updated industrial policy had previously hindered international partnerships and donor engagement.

“Many of our development partners would not even listen to us because there was no industrial policy, so this approval is extremely significant,” Enoh added.

He said the policy directly supports President Tinubu’s economic diversification agenda under the administration’s eight-point policy framework.

Lekki medical tourism park, trade fair hosting approved

On trade and investment matters, Enoh disclosed that FEC approved the construction of internal and access roads within the Lekki Medical Tourism Park in Lagos.

“The approval for the construction of internal and access roads within the Lekki Medical Tourism Park was granted,” he said.

He also confirmed that the council was formally briefed on Nigeria’s selection to host the Intra-African Trade Fair (IATF).

“Nigeria has officially been selected to host the Intra-African Trade Fair after a competitive bidding process,” Enoh stated.

Lagos chosen as host city

According to the minister, Lagos will host the trade fair, with the Lagos Creative and Cultural Centre (former National Arts Theatre) designated as the main venue.

He said hosting the IATF strengthens Nigeria’s strategic position within the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) framework and complements ongoing industrialisation programmes being implemented in collaboration with the United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO).