NAJA Awards 2026: Race for Car of the Year Gathers Momentum
By Daphne Uduneje
The race for Nigeria’s top automotive industry honours is gathering momentum as automobile manufacturers, distributors and other stakeholders position for recognition at the 19th edition of the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) Awards, with the Car of the Year category expected to attract significant attention.
The awards ceremony, scheduled for December 3, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, will bring together major players across the automotive value chain to celebrate excellence, innovation and contributions to industry development.
Beyond the recognition and prestige associated with the awards, this year’s edition comes amid significant changes in Nigeria’s automotive landscape, driven by technological advancement, alternative-energy mobility, changing consumer preferences and renewed interest in local vehicle manufacturing.
The Car of the Year category remains one of the most anticipated, given its potential to strengthen brand credibility, influence consumer confidence and reinforce manufacturers’ market positions.
Other categories will recognise achievements across vehicle manufacturing and assembly, commercial transportation, electric mobility, automotive distribution, after-sales services and individual contributions to the sector.
Chairman of the 2026 NAJA Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said the committee was committed to delivering a ceremony that reflects the growing importance of Nigeria’s
automotive industry.
He described the awards as a platform for recognising individuals, brands and organisations contributing to the sector’s development, adding that the 19th edition would build on previous successes while maintaining the credibility and professional standards of the association.
Similarly, NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the awards were designed to recognise not just prominent industry players but also organisations and individuals whose performance, innovation and investments had delivered measurable value to the sector.
He emphasised that the integrity of the evaluation process remained central to sustaining the awards’ credibility.
2025 Winners Set Competitive Benchmark
The achievements of previous winners provide a competitive benchmark for this year’s contenders.
At the 18th NAJA International Auto Awards, held on December 16, 2025, at the Oriental Hotel, Victoria Island, Lagos, the Jetour Dashing emerged Nigeria’s Car of the Year, beating the Changan CS55 and Chery Tiggo.
Mikano Motors was named Auto Company of the Year, while the Changan CS55 won Midsize SUV of the Year.
Toyota Nigeria’s Isolo facility emerged Workshop of the Year, while the Toyota Hilux and Toyota Hiace won Pick-Up of the Year and Minibus of the Year, respectively.
Other winners included Dangote Sinotruk as Heavy-Duty Truck Brand of the Year; Iron Products Industries Limited as Truck Assembler/Body Builder of the Year; Lanre Shittu Motors as Truck Plant of the Year; and Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing as Passenger Car Assembly Plant of the Year.
In the alternative-energy category, SAGLEV won EV Brand of the Year, while Jet Automobiles emerged CNG Vehicle Assembler of the Year. NORD Automobiles was named Fastest Growing Auto Brand of the Year.
Carloha Nigeria secured both Auto Aftersales Company of the Year and Pre-owned Company of the Year, while Winpart by CFAO won Auto Aftersales Service Provider of the Year.
For individual recognition, NORD Automobiles Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Oluwatobi Ajayi, emerged Auto Personality of the Year in the private-sector category, while the Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council, Joseph Osanipin, received the public-sector award.
The diversity of the winners reflected the expanding scope of the awards, particularly in local vehicle assembly, commercial transportation, alternative-energy mobility and automotive services.
Industry Expectations Rise
The 2026 edition comes as the automotive industry navigates a changing mobility landscape, with growing interest in compressed natural gas (CNG), electric vehicles and local manufacturing.
These developments are placing greater emphasis on innovation, investment, technical expertise and reliable after-sales services.
For manufacturers and distributors, the awards provide an opportunity to demonstrate their contributions to these emerging industry priorities.
The competition is also expected to highlight how automotive businesses are responding to consumer concerns around vehicle affordability, maintenance costs, fuel efficiency, access to genuine spare parts and long-term ownership value.
As nominations progress, attention will shift to the brands, products and personalities considered deserving of recognition across the various categories.
With the previous edition establishing a strong competitive benchmark, the 19th NAJA Awards is expected to provide another platform for celebrating industry achievements and recognising businesses and individuals shaping Nigeria’s automotive future.
However, one question is already generating interest among industry stakeholders: which vehicle will succeed the Jetour Dashing as Nigeria’s next Car of the Year?
