NAJA Sets December 3 for 19th Auto Awards, Targets Bigger Celebration of Industry Excellence
By Daphne Uduneje
The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has fixed Thursday, December 3, 2026, for the grand finale of its 19th annual awards, as preparations gather momentum for what promises to be a major celebration of excellence and achievement in Nigeria’s automotive industry.
Scheduled to hold at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, the event is expected to bring together a broad spectrum of industry stakeholders, including automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers, financial institutions, policymakers, motoring enthusiasts and other players shaping the future of the nation’s mobility ecosystem.
Coming at a period of significant transformation in Nigeria’s automotive landscape, the 2026 NAJA Awards will once again provide a platform for recognising brands, organisations and individuals whose contributions have helped to advance the growth and development of the sector.
The organisers said this year’s edition is being designed to surpass previous ceremonies in scale, organisation and prestige, while preserving the credibility and professional standards that have defined the awards over nearly two decades.
Chairman of the 2026 NAJA Awards Planning Committee, Frank Kintum, said preparations were already underway to deliver an event that reflects both the growing stature of the awards and the increasing importance of the automotive industry to Nigeria’s economic development.
According to him, the awards have evolved into an important platform for recognising excellence, innovation and outstanding contributions across the various segments of the automobile value chain.
Kintum said the committee was committed to ensuring that the 19th edition would be bigger and more glamorous than previous editions, with deliberate attention being given to the quality of organisation and overall experience of participants and guests.
“We are determined to put together an event that will truly reflect the quality, resilience and achievements of the Nigerian automotive industry,” he said.
The awards process, according to the organisers, will involve the assessment of products, brands and personalities across relevant categories, with winners emerging through NAJA’s established evaluation and awards modalities.
NAJA Chairman, Theodore Opara, said the underlying objective of the awards extends beyond celebrating the biggest names or most visible players in the market.
Rather, he said, the association remains focused on identifying and rewarding individuals, brands and organisations that have demonstrated measurable excellence and made meaningful contributions to the growth and advancement of Nigeria’s automotive industry.
According to Opara, the credibility attached to the awards and its evaluation process has increasingly positioned the annual ceremony as an important reference point for industry stakeholders.
He noted that as the automotive sector continues to evolve, recognition of genuine innovation, investment, quality and industry leadership has become even more critical.
The 2026 edition is particularly significant as Nigeria’s automotive industry navigates a period of rapid change, shaped by emerging technologies, the transition towards electric and alternative-fuel mobility, renewed conversations around local vehicle manufacturing and assembly, changing consumer preferences and evolving government policies.
The growing interest in electric vehicles, compressed natural gas-powered transportation and other clean mobility solutions is also reshaping investment priorities and creating new opportunities across the automotive value chain.
Against this backdrop, the NAJA Awards is expected to offer a platform for celebrating organisations and individuals helping to define the direction of the industry and contributing to its long-term sustainability.
Over the years, the annual awards ceremony has attracted leading automobile brands and corporate organisations operating in Nigeria, earning recognition as one of the industry’s major end-of-year gatherings.
The organisers have therefore called on automobile companies, industry stakeholders and other relevant organisations to participate actively in the 2026 awards process as preparations build towards the December 3 grand finale in Lagos.
With the countdown now underway, expectations are high that the 19th edition will further reinforce NAJA’s role as a credible industry observer and promoter of excellence within Nigeria’s fast-evolving automotive sector.
