Auto
Nord presents new A9 SUV to Chess star, Tunde Onakoya

Nord presents new A9 SUV to Chess star, Tunde Onakoya
Nord Automobile, fast-growing indigenous auto assembler, has gifted a brand new Nord SUV to the renowned Chess player and Guinness World Record holder, Tunde Onakoya, to extend his brand ambassador deal for the company.
The chess star last year received a Nord A7 SUV courtesy of the Chairman/CEO of Nord Automobiles, Mr. Tobi Ajayi.
Tunde Onakoya is known for breaking the Guinness World Record for the longest chess marathon, playing for an astonishing 64 hours.
He is also the founder of Chess in Slums Africa, a charity that uses chess to educate children in underserved communities.
Making the presentation in the company’s showroom located at Lekki area of Lagos state, Nord’s Chairman/CEO, Tobi Ajayi, said Nord decided to identify with Tunde Onakoya because he aligns with the culture and vision of the company.
He said, “We sell intelligent and smart vehicles as well as identify with the Nigerian people, and these we have seen in Tunde Onakoya. He is very smart and intelligent and has traveled to all parts of Nigeria to find talents”.
Recalling the history of the purely Nigerian company he founded only a few years ago, the Nord boss stated, “We started Nord to show Nigerians that they can buy brand new cars without breaking the bank”.
Responding, the world acclaimed chess player, who referred to the Chairman-CEO of Nord as the Elon Musk of Africa, said his experience with the Nord A7, was very refreshing and rewarding.
He stated that the successes recorded by Nord automobiles within a few years of establishment by Tobi Ajayi, has shown that “it is possible to do great things with small things”.
He said , “It has been a very wonderful experience, particularly because it is an indigenous Nigerian brand, it is high time we change the narrative about local talents and their capabilities”.
Onakoya also relived his experience driving the Nord A7, saying “the first thing is that when people see me drive the car, they are curious about the brand, the logo itself is very distinct. The car announces my arrival in many places, it is very strong to withstand the different Nigeria roads”.
He added that “I am also impressed about the quality of the design, it has very bold presence, Nord is a brand that Nigerians should be proud of”.
He said received prompt and customer-friendly after-sales services from Nord throughout the time he drove the Nord A7, and looks forward to same treatment with his newly acquired Nord A9.
Auto
FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday

FRSC, NADDC, NRC, others to discuss sustainable transportation at 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture Thursday
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), Nigerian Shippers’ Council, among others, are expected to dissect and discuss sustainable transportation in Nigeria: Prospects and Challenges, the theme of the 11th Nigeria Transport Lecture (NTL).
The event billed to take place on Thursday, June 19, 2025, at Radisson Blu Hotel, Ikeja GRA, Lagos, is organized by Transport Day Media (www.transportday.com.ng), a monthly hard copy and daily online publication.
The discourse, which will involve industry players from both the public and private sectors, will x-ray sustainability, cutting across all modes of transportation in Nigeria.
According to the Editor of Transport Day Media, Mr. Frank Kintum, the topic is relevant in contemporary times because Nigeria cannot be left behind in the embrace of cleaner and sustainable transportation.
He said, “We cannot run away from the fact that we have to continuously discuss and take action on issues concerning sustainable transportation because it comes with a lot of benefits in terms of cost cutting, life style and general productivity”.
He added that the annual Transport Lecture which had held in Lagos and Abuja in the past, remains a platform for relevant stakeholders in the transport and logistics value chain to discuss and exchange ideas on key contemporary topics as they unfold.
Some lead paper presenters in past editions included MD, Lagos Metropolitan Area Transport Authority (LAMATA), 1st Edition, 2013; DG, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), 5th Edition, 2018; Former Federal Permanent Secretary, Dr. Anthonia Ekpa, 9th Edition, 2022, and Corps Marshal of the FRSC, 10th edition, 2024.
Auto
NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit

NAJA announces date for 2nd Nigeria Auto Industry Summit
…to focus on Nigeria first, local content development
The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has announced that the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) will hold on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre in Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
This year’s summit, themed “Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy”, will bring together key stakeholders in government, manufacturing, trade, among others to chart a forward-thinking path for the nation’s automotive industry.
Organised in partnership with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA), and the African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM), the summit aims to deepen the national conversation around local content integration and the long-term viability of Nigeria’s automotive sector.
It will also dwell on the Federal Government recently launched Nigeria’s First initiative and the buying of the locally assembled automobiles.
The event will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, while Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of the NADDC, will be the Chief Host.
Commenting on the importance of the summit, Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the NAISU Planning Committee, said: “This year’s summit focuses on how local content can drive sustainable industrialization in Nigeria’s auto sector.
“We are bringing the right voices together—from regulators and customs officials to local manufacturers and traders—so that policies and actions can align.
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
Some of those expected to make presentations at the summit are Chief Anselm Ilekuba, Chairman, Association of Local Content Manufacturers (ALCMAN); Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, President, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA).
Theodore Opara, Chairman of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA), the umbrella body for journalists covering the automotive sector in Nigeria, said, “As auto journalists, we understand the power of information in shaping national policy. NAISU is our contribution to a better-informed, locally driven auto economy.”
“The future of Nigeria’s auto sector lies in how we leverage our local resources, manpower, and innovation. NAISU offers a platform for strategic collaboration that reflects NAJA’s own mandate to build a resilient automotive ecosystem.”
“Local content is more than policy; it’s the foundation for job creation, skill transfer, and industrial sovereignty. NAISU 2025 will help unify efforts and challenges to go beyond imported solutions.”
The 2025 NAISU will feature keynote addresses, panel sessions, and networking engagements centred on how Nigeria can reduce dependency on imported components and increase domestic production capacity.
Issues slated for discussion include: Custom tariff frameworks and local assembly incentives; Supply chain localization and small-scale manufacturing; Technology transfer and skilled workforce development and Regulatory compliance and standard enforcement.
The Nigeria Auto Industry Summit is fast becoming the premier annual forum for strategic discourse on the automotive future of Africa’s largest economy.
For participation, partnership, or media inquiries, stakeholders are encouraged to contact the NAJA Secretariat or visit the association’s official communication channels.
Auto
NEW ERA to commission Nigeria’s first Jetour-branded showroom Wednesday

NEW ERA to commission Nigeria’s first Jetour-branded showroom Wednesday
NEW ERA Autovehicle Services Limited, a new player in Nigeria’s automotive industry, is set to officially commission its state-of-the-art dealership outfit in the prestigious Lekki area of Lagos on Wednesday, June 18, 2025.
This landmark event marks a significant milestone as the Lekki showroom becomes the first Jetour-branded dealership in Nigeria, just two years after the Jetour brand made its entry into the Nigerian automotive market. The new showroom will serve as a flagship hub for the Jetour brand, reflecting its cutting-edge design, premium experience, and customer-centric approach.
The commissioning ceremony will bring together prominent auto industry personalities, top government officials, and captains of industry from across the country, highlighting the importance of this development to Nigeria’s growing automotive ecosystem.
Speaking ahead of the launch, Kemi Koyejo, Chief Executive Officer of NEW ERA Autovehicle Services Limited, expressed her enthusiasm, saying, “We are proud to unveil this pioneering Jetour-branded showroom in Lekki.
“It reflects our commitment to innovation, excellence, and meeting the evolving needs of Nigerian motorists with global-standard services and vehicles.”
The Lekki facility will not only showcase the latest models from Jetour’s lineup but will also provide world-class aftersales support, technical servicing, and a unique brand experience tailored to the Nigerian market.
The opening signals NEW ERA’s strategic vision to establish itself as a key stakeholder in the transformation of the Nigerian auto sector and a driving force in the promotion of globally recognized brands like Jetour.
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