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Mediacraft Associates Congratulates Clara Okoro, Others, On BJAN Election

Mediacraft Associates Limited, a leading public relations firm in Nigeria, has congratulated the new leadership of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), a body of writers that cover the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) space, and the entire assoc . . . iation, on the peaceful and credible election that produced Clara Chinwe Okoro as the new Chairman.

Okoro, who will be piloting the affairs of the association for the next three years, emerged victorious at the election, which took place in Lagos, during the BJAN 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference with the theme “Media Management in Difficult Time: Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation”, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

In a congratulatory letter signed by John Ehiguese, Group Chief Executive Officer, Mediacraft Associates Limited, the firm stated that it was not surprising that Okoro was unanimously elected to lead the association given her enviable professional pedigree and commitment to the association.

The letter read: “Everything you have done and accomplished has led to this point. You have worked so hard on yourself, accumulating vast relevant professional experience coupled with your sterling leadership qualities, which created the necessary advantage to convince others of your potential and abilities that eminently qualified you for this well-deserved election.

“As you embark upon your new responsibilities and steer your Association to greater heights, we look forward to working closely with you to further strengthen our friendship and advance our common objective of promoting and telling brand stories.”

Other members of the association elected into various executive positions include: the immediate past General Secretary, Ayobami Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space, who emerged as the Vice Chairman and the former Assistant General Secretary, Adejuwon Oshunuyi of Daily Bells Newspaper, who emerged as the new General Secretary.

Other elected members are Assistant General Secretary; Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph, Treasurer; Melvin Udosen of Brandessence, Financial Secretary; Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of Brand Icon Image and Chief Information Officer (CIO); Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News.

Mediacraft Associates is a full-service Public Relations and Integrated Brand Communications consultancy firm operating out of Lagos, Nigeria. Mediacraft Associated is the exclusive Nigeria affiliate of the FleishmanHillard global PR network and a registered member of The Public Relations Consultants Association of Nigeria (PRCAN), the umbrella body of PR firms operating in Nigeria.

16 December 2021
Daily Bells Publisher, Osunnuyi, Emerges BJAN General Secretary

Members of the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, a body of writers that cover the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) space, have elected the publisher of Daily Bells and Business Bells, Mr Adejuwon Osunnuyi as the new General Secretary.

The publisher emerged victorious during the election which took place at the BJAN 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference with the theme “ Media Management in Difficult Time; Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation held at Presken Hotel, Opebi, Lagos, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

Osunnuyi, a seasoned journalist and experienced brand writer, was the immediate past Assistant General Secretary. He had earlier served as the Chief Information Officer, CIO and Editor of BJAN’s official magazine, the Mango.

Aside Osunnuyi, Clara Chinwe Okoro, a former Vice Chairman of the association was also unanimously elected as the new Chairman.

Clara, who is also a veteran broadcaster and experienced brand writer, is the Executive Producer, Brandworld Media.

She was the vice Chairman of BJAN under Mr. Goddie Ofose’s administration, between 2016 and 2019, where her experience helped in spurring the association to greater heights.

Other members elected into other various executive positions included Ayobami Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space, who emerged as the Vice Chairman. He was the immediate past General Secretary.

Others were Assistant General Secretary; Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph, Treasurer; Melvin Udosen of Brandessence, Financial Secretary; Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of Brand Icon Image and Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News as Chief Information Officer (CIO).

Speaking at the event, the outgoing Chairman, Mr Afolabi Idowu lauded the BJAN members for the unflinching support given to him especially since he took over the reigns of power about two months ago following the death of the former Chairman, Princewill Ekwujuru.

He also thanked all the stakeholders who stood with the association when Ekwujuru was involved in an auto accident as well as when he eventually died.

Idowu stated that the incoming chairman had been fully involved in the affairs of the association and would be supported to deliver on her programmes.

He also thanked the electoral committee members for organising a free and fair election.

The General Secretary-Elect, Adejuwon Osunnuyi, reiterated his commitment to enthrone an effective and functional E-governance structure at the secretariat.

“I am using this opportunity to show my gratitude to you for giving me the opportunity to serve you.

“Be rest assured that we would be having an IT-driven, innovative and professionalised BJAN Secretariat, that accords with all modern and international best practices,” he said.

Newly elected BJAN excos.

According to him, “As they say, the reward for hard work is more work. Therefore, I’m unafraid to take on a bigger responsibility.”

“Where I have opportunity to impact people, I do not shy away from it.

“As we are all aware, the office of the General Secretary of BJAN is the busiest office in the Association, and it is generally referred to as engine room. I give kudos to the outgoing General Secretary for performing wonderfully well practically as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of the association.

“As a prospective occupier of the office of the General Secretary, I say it with boldness that I can match and hopefully surpass the successes recorded by my outgoing boss as I possess excellent leadership and administrative skills; I’m a multitasker, with an eye for detail. I am innovative, tech savvy, hardworking and committed to assignments.”

Speaking further, Osunnuyi said; “Manning the Secretariat of a multi-membered association like the BJAN in this post Covid-19 era, demands even more. It demands a strategic thinker who will be ready and eager to embrace prevailing new perspectives, and adapt quickly to new and better ways of doing things. I epitomise the foregoing attributes. My aspiration for the office, is borne out of my passion for positive and innovative change. I have the character, I have the capacity, I have the competence and experience. I am burning with ideas to innovate the Secretariat. I understand the workings of the Secretariat better as I served diligently as the outgoing Assistant General Secretary of the Association.”

Speaking on his plans for BJAN, the Daily Bells Publisher submitted; “My immediate priority is to create an IT-driven, Innovative and Professionalised Secretariat. Hence, in conjunction with other members of the excos especially the Chairman, I promise to ensure that we have our own befitting and well-equipped physical Secretariat and stop the act of moving from one bar or the other to hold our meetings.”

“A Secretariat that will be accessible to all members, a responsive Secretariat, with a motivated Staff that will efficiently respond to the needs of our members, and a Secretariat that will support and enhance our practice as journalists.”

16 December 2021
BJAN Conference: Expert Advocates Dialogue On AISOP, Unconscionable Contracts

A veteran Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) lawyer and Managing Partner of Gee Law Firm, Mr. Nosakhare Uwadiae, has urged stakeholders displeased with the new Advertising Industry Standard of Practice (AISOP) document to embrace dialogue in the interest of bringing sanity to the industry.

He also warned IMC agencies to be careful with the document they sign with brands as most of those contracts fall within the regime of unconscionable contracts.

Nosakhare made this known at the Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN) 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference held at Presken Hotel, Opebi, Lagos recently where he spoke on the sub-theme, “Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation’’ based on the theme of the 2021 conference: “Media Management in Difficult Times”.

Nosakhare Uwadiae

Commenting on the contract signed between agencies and brands, he emphasised that most contracts are unfair and at times adapted from other countries which are not in line with the laws of the land, adding that most of the contracts have unfair contract terms and unequal bargaining powers.

“From experience, it is observed that most contracts between clients and agencies are bereft of equity. More often, the contracts are more to the advantage of clients (one-sided) and the agencies’ bargaining power is weak because of desperation to get business from the client. Most of the contracts clients sign with agencies falls within the regime of unconscionable contracts,” he stated.

Speaking on AISOP, Uwadiae stated: “I would recommend that Advertising Stakeholders in Nigeria should take another look at the AISOP and come up with balanced recommendations. A short, medium and long-term assessment of the recommendations should be candidly reviewed to make recommendations that will be far-reaching in the interest of all parties. There should also be an agreement amongst stakeholders for review of the AISOP every five years to plug gaps and adjust to current realities. This should be part of the AISOP. More engagement should be encouraged and all stakeholders should shun grandstanding. We must work together for the collective interests of the industry.”

Noteworthy, according to APCON, AISOP is a business framework that seeks to improve mutual respect, eradicate unfair advantage, unethical competition, and inequitable engagement terms between stakeholders in the Advertising and Marketing Communication sector of the Nigerian economy which took effect from the 6th of October 2021.

The AISOP code captures engagement policy, how stakeholders engage agencies, payment terms, and commission, remuneration, disengagement protocol, returns on advertising investment and measurement, peaceful resolution, and other related protocols. However, the Advertisers Association of Nigeria (ADVAN) rejected the AISOP code, stating that it infringes on the rights of private entities to determine their contractual terms.

Stating the benefit of self-regulations like AISOP, the IMC legal expert said: “Marketers benefit from self-regulation because responsible advertising helps build consumer trust in brands, which in turn builds brand loyalty and increases sale.”

On another note, Nosakhare said AISOP should have taken cognisance of the fact that some agencies do not live up to the service-level agreement (SLAs) and do not act as strategic business partners to clients and even when clients pay, some agencies and media independents do not pay third parties

“If not properly handled, it could worsen the present situation of payments. There is need to have more engagements with ADVAN so that realistic timelines can be agreed upon based on SLAs and KPIs,” he pointed.

Earlier in his welcome address, immediate past Chairman of BJAN, Afolabi Idowu said the association picked the theme and subtheme to address salient topical issues in the industry and help members get a firm grasp of the issues so as to be able to provide the sound analysis and reportage that Nigerians and other stakeholders need for better understanding of the subject matter.

“We believe that the knowledge shared at this event today would deepen the knowledge base of individuals, groups and the entire Nigerian ecosystem.

“We thank the brands and organisations that embraced the strategic marketing opportunities that this event provides to consolidate and deepen the visibility and presence of their product and services in the marketplace,” Idowu enthused.

Recall that the association held its maiden edition of the conference in 2013 in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, with the theme: “Repositioning Centenary Brands to Align with Modern Realities” while the 2020 edition held in Lagos had “Consolidating Nigeria’s Agricultural Revolution: Challenges, Opportunities, and Lessons” as theme.

BJAN is repositioned to become a major thought leadership stakeholder group in advancing the objectives of the IMC industry in Nigeria and would be driving a lot of key topics affecting the industry to this effect.

At its AGM, it elected new executives that would pilot the affairs of the association for the next three years.

They include Clara Chinwe Okoro of Brandworld Media as Chairman with Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space as Vice-Chairman.

Others are Adejuwon Osunnuyi of the Daily Bells Newspaper as General Secretary, Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph as Assistant General Secretary, Melvin Udosen of Brand Essence as Treasurer, Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of Brand Icon Image as Financial Secretary and Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News as Chief Information Officer (CIO).

14 December 2021
Anchoria Rebrands, Targets Youths, Increases Trading Possibilities

Nigeria’s foremost investment and securities company, Anchoria, has announced that it has rebranded and launched a new identity to cater to the needs of a younger generation of investors in Nigeria.

Managing Director, Anchoria Investment and Securities Limited, Nkechi Azubuike, made this known to industry stakeholders, clients and pressmen at the Anchora Rebirth event to officially re-launch the brand on Thursday, 9th December at HSE Gourmet in Lagos.

According to her, Anchoria has a wealth of experience managing financial assets and plans to create new products and services that will usher in endless possibilities for young Nigerians.

She stated that “As an institution, we have taken up this challenge to re-imagine our processes and uncover newer ways of operating and serving our clients. Therefore, we are re-launching – updating our brand, services & products to create depth and broader investment possibilities for our clients.

L-R: Executive Director, Securities Dealing, Anchoria, Emmanuel Oso; Executive Director, Specialised Products and Foreign Operations, Anchoria, Ayobami Jikiemi; Group Managing Director/CEO, VFD Group Plc., Nonso Okpala; Managing Director, Anchoria, Nkechi Azubike, at the Anchoria brand relaunch event at HSE Gourmet, Lekki on Thursday

Now more than ever, with the boom and explosion to basic access and knowledge of available investment options among our target groups, it has never been more critical for us to connect, engage and ultimately convert as both experts and trend spurrers and setters.

“We plan to leverage our superior knowledge of the market buoyed by the many other trading possibilities that abound to their advantage.”

The Chairman, Board of Directors, Anchoria Investment and Securities; Sam Chidoka, speaking on the re-launch, reiterated the responsibility of the brand to change the game,

“The launch of this new Anchoria signals a new era, the birth of a new generation of wealth creators and builders. Beyond repositioning the business for efficiency, we are here to flip the script and re-imagine the future for securities and trading businesses in Nigeria.”

L-R: Executive Director, Investment Management and Investor Relations, VFD Group Plc. , Niyi Adenubi; Executive Director, Securities Dealing, Anchoria, Emmanuel Oso; Managing Director, Anchoria, Nkechi Azubike; Chairman, Board of Directors, Anchoria, Sam Chidoka; Non- Executive Director Anchoria, Gbenga Omolokun; Executive Director, Specialised Products and Foreign Operations, Anchoria, Ayobami Jikiemi; Non- Executive Director Anchoria, Babatunde Dada; at the Anchoria brand relaunch event at HSE Gourmet, Lekki, Lagos

The rebrand, which comprises a new website, logo, a different colour palette and appealing typography, represents Anchoria’s commitment to providing financial freedom to a new generation.

Anchoria is a member of the Nigerian Stock Exchange licensed to deal in shares and stocks on all exchange trading floors and the National Association of Securities Dealers, NASD. Immersed in culture and heritage since 1994, the brand aims to provide more investment opportunities specially designed for every Nigerian youth.

13 December 2021
BNSL Re-launches ‘ENRICH’ To Halt Malnourishment in Children

A world-class firm which specializes in the production of vitamins, minerals, and nutraceuticals, BNSL Limited, has re-launched the micronutrient powder known as “ENRICH”, focusing predominantly on young children.

The Managing Director of BNSL, Chioma Odimegwu said the aim of the re-launch is to bring the world’s attention to the plight of hundreds of millions of malnourished children all over the world, most especially, within Africa.

Speaking with a cross section of journalists at the firm’s premises in Mowe, Ogun State, Odimegwu pointed out that stunted growth among children was usually caused by poverty, poor child-feeding practices, lack of proper sanitation, lack of clean water, inadequate maternal nutrition, and uninformed practices amongst others.

According to her, statistics show that 41 per cent of all children under five are chronically malnourished in Nigeria, and 23 per cent are underweight. As a result of malnourishment, one million children in this group die annually.

The BNSL boss noted that the magnitude of the problem must be met with a response that reflects the scale and gravity of the situation.

In this regard, she said that BNSL Limited looked forward to delivering fortification as an efficient solution to a national challenge, and to drive a meaningful impact.

“Enrich is a micronutrient powder to be sprinkled and mixed with ready-to-eat food. It is a blend of essential vitamins and minerals, with specially encapsulated iron, for easier digestion”.

“ENRICH provides a convenient formulation for supplementing any low nutrient food. Majorly, it is targeted to meet the daily recommended nutrient intake of children above 6 months of age.”

The features of the product, the managing director said, included free-flowing powder and relatively tasteless, adding that the product did not change the taste, smell or colour of the food.

According to her, the company has successfully delivered over 20million micronutrient powder sachets to various government agencies, private companies and development partners from 2014 to date.

Also speaking at the event, Director, Tree Crops and Rural Development Services, Ministry of Agriculture, Ogun State, Mr James Oyesola, who represented the state Commissioner for Agriculture, Dr Adeola Odedina, pledged the state government’s cooperation and partnership to the company.

13 December 2021
Brand Journalists Elect New Chairman, Other Exco Members

The Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria (BJAN), a body of writers that cover the Integrated Marketing Communications (IMC) space has elected Clara Chinwe Okoro as the new Chairman to pilot its affairs for the next three years.

Okoro emerged victorious during the election which took place at the BJAN 9th Annual General Meeting/Conference with the theme “ Media Management in Difficult Time; Advertising, Impartiality and Regulation held at Presken Hotel, Opebi, Lagos, on Saturday, December 11, 2021.

Clara, who is a veteran broadcaster and experienced brand writer, is the Executive Producer, Brandworld Media.

She was the vice Chairman of BJAN under Mr. Goddie Ofose’s administration, between 2016 and 2019, where her experience helped in spurring the association to greater heights.

In 2018, her desire to assume the leadership of BJAN as the Chairman suffered a setback via a keenly contested election that brought in the late Princewill Ekwujuru.

Her defeat notwithstanding, Okoro’s loyalty to the association was not in doubt as she constantly contributed to the progress of the association.

Other members elected into other various executive positions included Ayobami Lukman Ishau of Marketing Space, who emerged as the Vice Chairman. He was the immediate past General Secretary.

Others were the former assistant Secretary, Adejuwon Osunnuyi of the Daily Bells Newspaper, emerging as the new General Secretary, Assistant General Secretary; Adedayo Odulaja of New Telegraph, Treasurer; Melvin Udosen of Brandessence, Financial Secretary; Olufemi Adeyemi Matthew of Brand Icon Image and Amechi Obiakpu of ESPI News as Chief Information Officer (CIO).

The outgoing Chairman, Mr Afolabi Idowu lauded the BJAN members for their unflinching support given to him especially since he took over the reigns of power about two months ago following the death of the former Chairman, Princewill Ekwujuru.

The outgoing Chairman, Brand Journalists Association of Nigeria, BJAN, Mr Afolabi Idowu with the Chairman-elect, Clara Okoro

He also thanked all the stakeholders who stood with the association when Ekwujuru was involved in the auto accident as well as when he eventually died.

Idowu stated that the incoming chairman had been fully involved in the affairs of the association and would be supported to deliver on her programmes.

He also thanked the electoral committee members for organising a credible free and fair election.

In her acceptance speech, the Chairman-elect, Okoro thanked members of the association for unanimously giving her the mandate to guide BJAN’s course and chart ground breaking deliverables for members.

She promised to run an inclusive government as she noted that none would be left behind.

“Three years is not a long time, so we will hit the ground running and with all your support we will triumph over every single obstacles and deliver the BJAN of our dreams,” she submitted.

Noting that the future looks exceedingly bright for the association, Okoro said her administration would do everything within its capacity to make BJAN a globally recognised IMC organisation.

The Brandworld Media executive producer, charging members to form a formidable cohesive front to achieve the results in no distant future, said; “This can only be achieved with the quality of the output of BJANs content in the right spaces and the repository of our collective talents through our writeups and electronic contents and how it is shaping thoughts and narratives in the industry both in Nigeria.

“This is no time to play small anymore you have worked hard to build successes for companies and by extension lives of individuals in those organisations. You and your families can and will benefit from that success as you deserve it.

“We will create a strategy document which would be a road map guiding us in the short medium and long term to achieve these goals.”

While assuring that all her manifesto promises would be followed through, the new Chairman extended her appreciation to Raheem Akingbolu, Peter Jones Ailuorio, Dayo Odulaja, Goddie Ofose, Afolabi Idowu, Lukman Ishau, Adejuwon Osunnuyi and Patrick Onuoha for the roles they played behind the scene to ensure she competes and eventually emerged winner in the election.

12 December 2021
SERAS 2021: Indigo Bags Best PR/ Communications Agency Promoting Sustainability

Integrated Indigo Limited, one of Nigeria’s leading full-service Public Relations and Event Management Consultancy firms, has emerged as the Best PR/Communications Agency Promoting Sustainability at the Social Enterprise and Responsibility Awards (SERAS) held in Lagos on Saturday, December 4, 2021.

The agency came ahead of other leading agencies such as Chain Reaction, CMC Connect, Social TV, and a South African-based agency, eclat.

According to the local organizing committee of the award, Integrated Indigo Limited won the PR/ Communications Agency Promoting Sustainability category in acknowledgment of its vast contribution and role in promoting the activities of its clients in different areas of sustainability.

In his keynote speech, the founder, SERAS, Dr. Ken Egbas, stated that the award was well-deserved, considering the passion and commitment of the agency in promoting excellence through several sustainability initiatives embarked upon by its clients.

He added that the recognition should serve as a constant reminder for the recipient to continue to do more in impacting society.

Bolaji Abimbola with the award

Speaking shortly after receiving the award, the Managing Director of Integrated Indigo Limited, Bolaji Abimbola, described the award as a testament to the immense capacity of the agency to deliver exceptional services for its clients on sustainability-related issues.

While expressing profound appreciation to the award’s organizer on the recognition, Abimbola dedicated the award to the team and the clients who created the enabling environment for the agency to collaborate and thrive.

“I am highly delighted to receive this award on behalf of the team. As an Agency, we are grateful for the confidence reposed in delivering value to our esteemed clients. This recognition means a lot to us and would further motivate us to do more in promoting our clients in a way that would make their businesses profitable and ensure that society is impacted positively through sustainability,” he said.

8 December 2021
Buhari’s Visit: Lagos Announces Emergency Traffic Diversion On Victoria Island

The Lagos State Government has announced diversion of traffic on Ahmadu Bello Way from Adeola Odeku Intersection inwards Adetokunbo Ademola Roundabout (Eko Hotel), Victoria Island from 8:00am to 2:00pm tomorrow Thursday 9th December, 2021.

Announcing the diversion plan, the Commissioner for Transportation, Dr. Frederic Oladeinde explained that the route will be temporarily unavailable for motorists to ply, assuring that alternative routes have been mapped out to ease traffic flow within and around the designated route.

Though the commissioner did not give reasons for the diversion, The DAILY BELLS reports that it might not be unconnected to President Mohammadu Buhari’s plan to attend a book launch in Lagos on Thursday.

According to the Transport Commissioner, motorists will be diverted to Adeola Odeku via Akin Adesola, adding that motorists will also be diverted to Oyin Jolayemi, Oko Awo and Sanusi Fafunwa as Akin Adesola connecting Ahmadu Bello Way by IBM will be closed off to vehicular movement.

Alternately, Ozumba Mbadiwe will be accessible for motorists to link their destinations as traffic from Ozumba Mbadiwe inbound Adetokunbo Ademola will be diverted to Ajose Adeogun, Sanusi Fafunwa or redirected back to Civic Events Centre axis to continue their journey

The Commissioner reiterated that all feeder roads leading to Ahmadu Bello Way from Adeola Odeku intersection as well as those leading to Eko Hotel from Adetokunbo Ademola Roundabout will be temporarily closed to traffic from early hours of the stated date.

While assuring motorists that signages will be mounted along the routes to guide movements, Oladeinde also affirmed that the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, (LASTMA) will be on ground to manage the inconvenience and reduce travel time.

The State Government appealed to the citizenry with emphasis to those who reside and do business at the aforementioned axis to cooperate with the interventions made available to manage movement within and around Victoria Island, stressing that the traffic diversion is for a short period.

8 December 2021
US firm, Equinix, Acquires Funke Opeke’s MainOne, in $320m Deal

Equinix, Incorporated has announced that it is acquiring Nigerian Communications company, MainOne founded by Funke Opeke, in a $320m deal that is set to be sealed in the first quarter of 2022.

According to Equinix, the acquisition is its way of expanding into Africa since MainOne has a presence in Nigeria, Ghana, and Côte d’Ivoire.

The company added that the deal was still subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions including the requisite regulatory approvals.

The company said, “The transaction has an enterprise value of $320m and is expected to be AFFO accretive upon close, excluding integration costs, marking the first step in Equinix’s long-term strategy to become a leading African carrier neutral digital infrastructure company.

President and Chief Executive Officer, Equinix, Charles Meyers, said, “The acquisition of MainOne will represent a critical point of entry for Platform Equinix into the expansive and rapidly growing African market.

Reacting to the acquisition, Opeke said, “Equinix will accelerate our long-term vision to grow digital infrastructure investments across Africa.

“I thank our founding shareholders led by Mr. Fola Adeola, MainStreet Technologies, AFC, PAIDF, FBN, Polaris and AfDB for investing in the MainOne vision to bridge the Digital Divide in Africa. With similar values and culture to what we have jointly built in twelve years, Equinix is the preferred partner for our growth journey.

“The MainOne team is excited about the partnership created through the acquisition, and we look forward to building our next chapter together.”

8 December 2021
NAJA Awards: Glitz As Hyundai Creta Shines Again, Emerges Nigeria’s Car Of The Year [See List of Other Winners]
It is official. Hyundai Creta Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) has emerged 2021 Car-Of-The-Year (COTR) in Nigeria.

The sensational Hyundai Creta SUV was pronounced winner ahead of Toyota Corolla and Kia Rio at a colourful ceremony held on Wednesday night at Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos,

The annual event put together by Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) had in attendance key stakeholders in the automobile and transport sector in Nigeria including the Corp Marshal of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Dr Boboye Oyeyemi, representative of the Director General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Jelani Aliyu among others.

Hyundai Creta had in 2018 emerged winner of the coveted prize.

In 2019 Toyota Corolla won the award. The award ceremony did not hold in 2020 due to the ravaging effect of Covid-19 across the world.

Recently launched in the country, the 2021 Car of The Year, the Hyundai Creta, a Sports Utility Vehicle (SUV) is described as a car with a redesigned shape set to create unparalleled driving experiences for customers.

According to Hyundai, CRETA has been transformed into the ultimate sub-compact SUV for any terrain.

Building on the success of the previous model, the fresh-look CRETA is more spacious, boasts improved features and utilizes state-of-the-art technologies to meet the complete needs of working professionals, young peer group and families.

Mr. Gaurav Vashisht, Head, Sales and Marketing at Hyundai Motors Nigeria, said: “Developing high-quality vehicles are at the core of our vision and this is reflected with the all-new Hyundai CRETA model.

Corps Marshall Boboye Oyeyemi PhD, MFR Emerges Road Safety Personality Of The Decade

“Since the first model was launched, the CRETA has become one of the most popular vehicles and the latest version is set to be a game-changer in the sub-compact SUV segment. From top to bottom, we have crafted the car carefully, pushing the boundaries to ensure that it stands out on the road and is equipped with a wide range of improved features that will deliver even more fun-loving driving experiences.

“Ultimately, the new CRETA is no like no other vehicle. It’s a true urban crossover with loads of versatility that is modern, sensuous and sporty in design.”

Cross section of award winners at the 2021 NAJA Auto Awards
Earlier, in his welcome address, NAJA Chairman, Mike Ochonma, commended stakeholders for their contributions to the development of the sector.

Also, at the 2021 Auto Awards, Mercedes Benz S-class emerged Luxury Car of the year ahead of BMW 7-series.

Other winners at the prestigious Auto Awards, included:
- Luxury SUV Of The Year –Range Rover Velar
- Pick Up Of The Year –Toyota Hilux
- Auto Plant Of The Year (Truck) –Lanre Shittu (JAC)
- Auto Workshop Of The Year –Mandilas Motors
- Truck Of The Year (Heavy Duty) –Shacman (TSS)
- Outstanding Comeback Of The Year –Suzuki (CFAO)
- Most Transformed New Entrant Of The Year –Toyota Starlet
- Electric Vehicle Of The Year –Hyundai Kona
- Most Resilient Auto Assembler –PAN Nigeria Ltd
- Nigeria Auto CEO Of The Year –Chief Diana Chen (Chairman/CEO, CIG Group)
- Auto Personality Of the Year (Public Sector) –Jelani Aliyu MFR (DG, NADDC)
- Auto Personality Of the Year (Corporate) –Jacky Hathiramani (MD, Dana Motors)
- Pillar of Nigeria Auto Industry –Chief Michael Ade-Ojo
- Electric Vehicle Promoter Of The Year –Jet Systems
- Gas Powered Auto Assembler Of The Year –OMAA
- Communication/Marketing Manager Of The Year –Beatrice Oyesile
- Communication/Marketing Manager Of The Year –Funmi Abiola
- Auto Manufacturer Of The Year (Local Content) –Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM)
- Most Innovative Auto Company of The Year –Massilia Motors
- Motor Rally Promoter Of The Year –Work & Play
- Outstanding New Pickup Of The Year –Nord Tank
- Compact SUV Of The Year (Outstanding Design/Technology) –Geely Coolray
- Most Fascinating SUV Of The Year –GAC GS8
- Executive Car Of The Year –Kia K5 (Optima)
- Road Safety Personality Of The Decade –Boboye Oyeyemi PhD, MFR
- Online Auto Company of the year –Autochek
- Mini Bus Of The Year –Toyota Hiace
2 December 2021