By Theodore Orji
Toyota Nigeria Limited has rewarded its dealers, customers, and journalists for their support and loyalty at their just concluded 8th Annual award held at the Grand Ball Hall of Eko Hotel and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos.
Seven brand new Toyota vehicles including two Yaris, two Corolla, one Avanza, one Hilux and one Hiace, valued at over N25 million were given away at the event. Also Motoring journalists and photographers went home with prizes and gift including TV sets and handset at the ceremony tagged “an evening of recognitions to reward loyalty and patronage of the Toyota brand in Nigeria.
Also, a badminton gold medalist in the last Paralympic games , Mr. Jimoh Adisa Folawiyo, was presented with a N200,000:00 cheque in the corporate social responsibility (CSR) award category for overcoming his physical challenges to become a world champion.
Speaking at the occasion in which winners emerged in the customer, dealer and journalist categories, the chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade Ojo, said it had become a tradition for Toyota Nigeria as a trend setter in the industry and as a company that is committed to the ideals and virtues of appreciation, to say ‘thank you’ to those who have contributed to the company’s success story in one way or the other on an annual basis through this particular medium.
“We appreciate the cooperation and understanding of our esteemed customers, dealers and other stakeholders in this regard. Your unflinching support has remained the pillars upon which our leadership edifice is built; this has enabled us to maintain the number one spot in the market both globally and locally,” he said.
Ade Ojo disclosed that despite the challenges of 2011, which included the tsunami in Japan which greatly affected the company in terms of supply of products, TNL was able to record respectable performance in all areas of its operations and was able to sell about 19,000 units of vehicles, representing 33 per cent share of the market.
Managing Director, Toyota Nigeria, Mr. Chandracheka Thampy, said the annual awards ceremony was a mark of the great recognition and massive importance the company accords its customers and all other partners in the business, noting that it was also recognition of the enormous roles they play in the company’s success stories over the years.
He added that Toyota Nigeria owed all that it has achieved so far to the cooperation and support of the customers, distributors and partners, saying “This is the reason why we are able to retain our number one position in the market.”
Winners at the Toyota award include Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), 2011 Customer of the Year, went home with a Toyota Corolla automatic transmission. Access Bank Plc. emerged the Evergreen Customer for 2011 with a Toyota Corolla automatic transmission prize, while
First Bank Plc. was the first runner-up in the customer category and was given a Toyota Yaris automatic transmission car as the second runner-up, C&I Leasing Limited, drove home with a Toyota Yaris manual transmission car.
In the distributor category, Elizade Nigeria Limited emerged the best distributor for the year with a Toyota Hiace standard roof bus as prize. Mandilas Motors, which emerged the second runner-up , was given a Toyota Avanza automatic transmission bus just as R.T Briscoe which emerged as the first runner-up got a Toyota Hilux double cabin pick up as prize.
