FG Champions Local Auto Brands Patronage, Throws Weight Behind Nord Motors

The Federal Government has called on Ministries, Departments, Agencies (MDAs), and the private sector to increase their patronage of locally manufactured automobiles, in line with its commitment to strengthen Nigeria’s industrial base and create jobs.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, made the call while endorsing Nord Motors, a leading Nigerian automobile brand. She commended the company’s commitment to innovation, quality, and value addition in the local automotive sector.

Oduwole gave this endorsement on Wednesday, October 1, 2025, being Nigeria’s 65 independence anniversary, when she visited the Nord automobile assembly plant inside the University of Lagos, UNILAG, to pick up her newly acquired Nord Demir SUV.

The Minister was received by the representative of the Vice Chancellor of UNILAG,  Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic and Research. Prof. Bola Oboh, as well as the Chairman of Nord Automobiles, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi.

Speaking at the occasion, the Minister said: “With the Africa Continental free trade zone agreement, you should be able to scale your industrialisation and your production, across Nigeria, you have two assembly plants, here and Epe, and your capacity is more than enough to meet the increasing demand of Nigerians, and I am glad that you told me that.

“You have corporate clients, four of the top ten companies on the Nigerian Stock Exchange. We are going to be encouraging the private sector and all Nigerians to patronise Made in Nigeria products. This is a proudly Made in Nigeria product, right here at the University of Lagos, where I am a product of.

“As a ministry, we are committed to supporting your sector, and Mr President has prioritised Nigeria First”.

Also speaking, the representative of the UNILAG VC, Prof Oboh stated that “Unilag is very proud to welcome the Minister of Trade, Investment and Industry, an alumnus of the University of Lagos, one of our own who left from the faculty of Law to serve the government, as she picks up her official car, the Nord Demir, assembled at the University of Lagos.”

She added: “We are happy with the initiative of the federal government led by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, that made in Nigeria goods should be patronised.

“In UNILAG, we are proud that not only do we have this assembly plant, which is also producing electric vehicles, but we are proud because we are a Green campus, we have Green buses, and Nord is also about to launch their green vehicles. Our students intern here regularly”.

The Nord Automobile  Chairman, Mr Oluwatobi Ajayi, while appreciating the Minister for the support, stated, “It is a privilege to have you as one of the owners of the elegant Nord vehicles. I am happy to say that you are a customer, or user or driver that I will always tell people about. Our own Minister of Trade, Industry and Investment, of my own country, drives a Nord vehicle. I am very happy about this”.

He equally thanked UNILAG for the partnership, which, according to him, “has transformed into one of the most important parts of the company. It has been an amazing decision for us”.

Nord Automobiles assembles a range of automobiles, including sedans,  pickups,  sports utility Vehicles and buses.  Others are electric vehicles and tricycles.