The journey of Toyota brand and that of Toyota (Nigeria) Limited to the leadership position in the local market has been a chequered one, so said Michael Ade.Ojo, 81, and chairman , Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) at the last Toyota Awards/Customer Night ceremony held in Lagos last Thursday.
In his welcome address presented during the awards night, the Octogenerian chairman of TNL admitted that, the auto franchisee have had its own share of success and setbacks, but noted that the franchisee has been able to navigate through the bumper part to establish itself as a priority brand of choice.
He described the night of awards as the right platform to savour the tremendous and suceesses TNL has recorded as wellas progress made collectively in the strategic partnership. The partnership has endured for nearly 5 decades; a partnership whose history is replete with exciting and nostalgic moments; a partnership that has come to stay.
According to Ade.Ojo, ‘’We have seen the good times as well as challenging times. However, with the cooperation and support of our loyal and ever reliable customers and partners, we have remained storng and formidable’’. He expressed delight that, despite the lull in the automotive sector, that many customers have supported the Toyota brand tick and thin.
‘’The continue to be our source of strength and pillar of support. Their support has made us a force to reckon with in the automobile industry in the country. It is therefore our joy to seize every available opportunity to celebrate you’’. The Toyota chairman said.
Michael Ade.Ojo regretted that, the Nigerian economy has experienced series of crisis over the years, adding that, the last few years in particular have been extremely tough.
The purchasing power of average citizen has been thoroughly weakened; this coupled with the unprecedented surge in prices of goods and services have made acquisition and ownership of new vehicles extremely difficult for average Nigerians. This has inevitablt resulted in a huge drop in sales of vehicles.
He assured the buying public that despite the monumental challenges confronting the nation’s economy, that Toyota Nigeria Limited will continue to devise means that willenable customers to keep on enjoying their preffered Toyota auto brand.
‘’We will continue to initiate customer friendly, business improvement strategies that is aimed at making the brand more affordable. One of such startegies is the introduction of more chaeper Toyota models and spare parts’’. The TNL chairman concluded.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Defence has won the Toyota (Nigeria) Limited Customer of the Year award, while the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) and MTN Communications Limited came first and second runners-up respectively.
As an appreciation for remaining committed to the Toyota brand in 2018, the MTN got N1million, DPR received N1.5million while Ministry of Defence received N2million.
The high point in the award category was the emergence of First Bank Nigeria Plc as the Evergreen Customer of the Year. The big financial giant was presented with the key to a brand new Yaris for cumulatively buying the highest number of Toyota vehicles for over a long period of years.
MIKE OCHONMA
