NADDC Champions Motoring Media as Key Driver of Nigeria’s Automotive Future

Bennett Oghifo 

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has called for stronger collaboration between government, industry stakeholders and specialised motoring media to accelerate the growth and industrial transformation of Nigeria’s automotive sector.

The call came as the Council received the Motoring World Resilience in National Automotive Development Award at the 30th anniversary celebration of Motoring World magazine held in Lagos recently. The award recognized NADDC’s steadfast commitment to promoting local manufacturing, skills development and industrial growth despite changing economic realities and policy challenges.

Receiving the honour on behalf of the Director-General of NADDC, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, Mrs. Susan Bisong-Taiwo, Director of the General Services Department, reaffirmed the Council’s commitment to positioning Nigeria as a major automotive manufacturing and innovation hub in Africa.

In a keynote address delivered on behalf of the Director-General, titled “Motoring Media as a Catalyst for Automotive Industry Growth in Nigeria,” Osanipin emphasized that specialised motoring media has a critical role to play in driving automotive industrialisation, attracting investment and promoting public understanding of emerging mobility technologies.

He noted that globally, the media has served as a strategic partner in promoting local manufacturing, educating consumers, stimulating policy conversations, encouraging investment and building confidence in the automotive industry.

“The media is the bridge between government, industry and the public. It informs. It educates. It influences perception. And importantly, it drives national conversations,” the NADDC Director-General stated.

According to Osanipin, the global automotive industry is undergoing one of the biggest transformations in its history, driven by electric mobility, alternative fuels, smart manufacturing and green transportation technologies, stressing that Nigeria must not be left behind.

He disclosed that NADDC is actively implementing strategic programmes designed to transform Nigeria from a vehicle market into a competitive automotive manufacturing and innovation centre. These initiatives include electric vehicle development, compressed natural gas conversion programmes, local content promotion, automotive component manufacturing, skills acquisition and strategic industry partnerships.

The Director-General stressed that government policies alone cannot transform an industry, adding that the motoring media must help simplify automotive policies for public understanding, educate Nigerians on emerging technologies and cleaner mobility alternatives, encourage patronage of locally assembled vehicles and components, and sustain constructive engagement among policymakers, investors, manufacturers and consumers.

He further observed that perception remains a critical factor in industrial development, warning that narratives dominated solely by challenges and uncertainties could weaken investor confidence and slow industrial growth.

“Where the narrative is dominated only by challenges and uncertainties, investor confidence weakens. But when the media responsibly highlights innovation, progress and opportunities, it inspires confidence and stimulates growth,” he said.

Osanipin also commended Motoring World for its resilience and sustained contributions to automotive journalism, policy advocacy and industry development over the past three decades, describing the publication’s survival in Nigeria’s challenging media environment as a testament to professionalism, relevance and commitment.

He noted that as Nigeria advances deeper into automotive industrialisation and energy transition, stronger collaboration among government institutions, industry operators and specialised motoring media will become increasingly important.

According to him, Nigeria possesses enormous automotive potential due to its large market, youthful population, expanding technical capacity, increasing investor interest and abundant natural resources. He stressed that sustained commitment, policy continuity, infrastructure development and stakeholder collaboration remain essential to unlocking this potential.

“If government, industry and the media work together strategically, Nigeria can emerge as a major automotive hub on the African continent,” he stated.

The Motoring World Resilience in National Automotive Development Award recognizes institutions and individuals that have demonstrated exceptional commitment and perseverance in advancing Nigeria’s automotive industrialisation agenda despite economic and policy challenges.