•Innoson, Mikano, Lanre Shittu, Calorha, Fixit 45, Coscharis win
By Moses Akaigwe
The 2023 edition of the annual Nigeria Auto Journalists’ Association (NAJA) Awards held on Thursday hit a climax when the all-new Honda HR-V was announced the winner of the most prestigious prize on the night: Car of the Year (COTY).
Assembled in Nigeria by Honda Automobile Western Africa Ltd (HAWA), the Honda HR-V, beat two other nominees to clinch the coveted COTY while the highly appreciative guests applauded ceaselessly.
•NADDC DG, Joseph Osanipin (left), presenting HR-V’s award to Remi Adams (middle) and Akintola Jemmy, both of Honda Automobile Western Africa
The annual NAJA Awards celebrates outstanding brands and individuals making waves in the automotive industry.
And this year, many brands and companies, including Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd (IVM), GUO Transport, Fixit 45, Coscharis Motors, Mikano Motors, Lanre Shittu Motors {LSM}, Carloha, Weststar Associates {Mercedes-Benz} and Toyota Nigeria.
•BKG Exhibitions MD, Ifeanyi Agwu {l} presenting the ‘Multi-Brand Auto Workshop’ award to Chioma Ahueze-Okechukwu [m}, Vice President {Commercial}/Cofounder; and Pankaj Bohra, COO & Cofounder, both of Fixit 45 Technologies Ltd
It was a night of glamour and excitement as auto personalities led by the industry regulator, the new Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Joseph Osanipin, stormed the Oriental Hotel in Lagos for the auto industry’s most coveted awards event.
Osanipin was accompanied by Mrs. Felicia Irene Oyebolu, the Council’s Deputy Director, Information and Public Relations Unit.
•Mrs. Karima Okunola of Mikano Motors receiving the ‘Compact SUV of the Year’ award won by Changan CS35 from Ifeanyi Agwu of BKG Exhibitions
Out of the tens of awards, the Car-of-the-Year award was the most sought-after with Honda HR-V unveiled as the number one car on Nigerian roads.
The presentation of the laurel was done by the NADDC DG to Mr. Remi Adams, Head Sales, Marketing & Logistics and Akintola Jemmy, Area Manager, both of Honda Automobile West Africa at the award night.
After receiving the prestigious plaque, an excited Adams expressed his company’s appreciation over the recognition and honour done to the brand.
He said it was a morale booster for HAWA in its determination to continue to churn out quality Made-in –Nigeria vehicles.
The current, All-new Honda HR-V which impressed the NAJA Awards judges with its attractive design and array of features, was introduced in Nigeria by HAWA in April, 2023
The HR-V assembled in Nigeria, by Nigerians and for Nigerians, has been designed to cope with the peculiar terrain of Nigeria.Its sleek aesthetic stance – a very strong selling point – is achieved by increasing ground clearance by 25 mm; now a total of 195mm GC, while reducing the front overhang further reinforces the robust SUV appeal.
The new HR-V represents the Third Generation of the Hi-Rider Revolutionary Vehicle, building on the successes of the First Generation (1999-2006); Second Generation (2006-2023) and the All New HR-V which is the third generation.
The HR-V is a product of a plant in Ota, Ogun State, where HAWA assembles vehicles and motorcycles with an installed capacity of 1000.
HR-V and other Honda cars are made available in all parts of Nigeria through HAWA’s partner, The Honda Place {THP Ltd} which operates a nationwide sales and after-sales network.
The Honda HR-V has progressively moved up to the Number One position in the mini-SUV segment with 38 percent share of the market share.
Powered by Honda’s 1.5 litre engine which delivers a blend of efficiency and responsive performance. comes in two trims – HR-V EX with leather seats and HR-V LX with fabric seats.
Sustaining the reputation of meeting the exact needs of modern car lovers, the new HR-V comes in three colours Opal Silver White, Brilliant Sporty Metallic Blue and Coffee Cherry Red for the Nigerian market.
It achieves a rare balance of premium SUV styling and exceptional spaciousness, with compact dimensions and easy entry and exit for passengers.
Other winners
One of the most prestigious honours at the NAJA Awards was the recognition of the Chairman/CEO of Innoson Group, Chief Innocent Ifediaso Chukwuma, as the Auto Personality of the Year.
The organisers explained that this was in appreciation of the path-finder role his Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co. Ltd, has been playing in the manufacture of vehicles powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in the country. Two years ago, the Nnewi-based auto plant became the first to manufacture vehicles that run on autogas.
Chief Chukwuma was represented at the event by the GM, Sales & Marketing, Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing Co.Ltd, Obum Osigwe.
A similar special recognition went to the Chairman of National Gas Expansion Programme Committee (NGEP), Dr. Mohammed Ibrahim. for indefatigably driving the campaign for the use of gas as an alternative to conventional fuels like petrol and diesel.
Dr. Ibrahim was honoured with the ‘Autogas Promoter of the Year’ plaque which was received on his behalf by Engr. Adeyemi Morufu from the National Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Predictably, Innoson was also honoured with the Auto Plant of the Year for the remarkable manufacturing activities that have been going at its factory in Nnewi. The award was also received by the GM incharge of Sales and Marketing, Obum Osigwe
Other winners at the NAJA Awards night were: GUO Transport Ltd which won the Transport Company of the Year: Budget Car of the Year for Suzuki S-Presso; Auto Design of the Year, Changan Uni-K; Heavy Duty Truck of the Year won by Lanre Shittu Motors for JAC assembly; and Luxury Brand of the Year that went to Weststar’s Mercedes-Benz.
Also on the awardees list were: RT Briscoe (Auto Workshop of the Year); Toyota Land Cruiser (Large SUV); Coscharis Motors’ Range Rover Autobiography (Luxury SUV); Toyota Hilux (Pick Up category); Mikano Motors (Most Innovative Auto Company); Lanre Shittu Motors’ JAC plant (Truck Plant); Autochek (Online Auto Finance facilitator); Toyota Hiace (Minibus category); and joint recognition of Stallion Motors and Coscharis Motors Plc with ‘The Most Resilient Auto Company.’
The list also included Auto Showroom of the Year – Mikano Motors; Enterprising Indigenous car company of the Year – NORD; and joint recognition as New Entrant Auto Company/Model’ for Jetour, Toyota by CFAO, Ford Territory; and Jet Lander.
GM, Marketing & Corporate Communication, Abiona Babarinde received the awards won by Coscharis Motors Plc
Similarly, Head of Marketing, Mikano Motors, Mrs Karima Okunola, had to mount the stage yet again to receive another award, this time for Changan CS35 which jointly won the ‘Compact SUV of the Year’ category with Kia Sonet. Veteran auto enthusiast and Kia Motor Nigeria VP, Olu Tikolo,received the plaque for Sonet. He was accompanied by GM, Sales & Commercial, Matthew Kuruvilla.
Indigenous Passenger Bus of the Year was won by Jet Mover; Multi Brand Auto Workshop prize went to Fixit 45 Technologies Ltd; Outstanding E-Commercial Advert of the Year:(Mitsubishi Outlander); Outstanding Print Auto Advert:was clinched by Jetour; Outstanding Auto Customer Service (Massilia Motors); Luxury Car of the Year (Mercedes-Benz S-Class); and Outstanding Comeback of the Year, Chery By Carloha.
Some of the guests at the awards night were the MD of Toyota Nigeria, Kunle Ade-Ojo; the company’s PR/Advert Manager, Mrs. Bukky Ogunnusi; MD of NORD, Ajayi Oluwatobi; Sanjay Rupani of Jet Motors; Marketing & Social Media Manager, Weststar Associates,Oluwatobi Abimbola; Head of Marketing and Corporate Communications, Massilia Motors, Funmi Abiona..