The Nigerian public has been advised to pay serious attention to happenings in the country’s automobile industry so as to be able to contribute their quota to the development of the sector.

This was disclosed recently in Lagos by Mr. Jabez Aina-Scott, publisher of On Wheels magazine and convener of “The Nigerian Auto Awards” (TNAA) while announcing the commencement of nominations for participants at this year’s Seventh Edition of the event.

The publisher said that the need for full participation of the public in the country’s automobile affairs is important to the extent that they could constitute a pressure group to influence developments in the sector, especially in relation to expansion as it affects job creation.

Mr. Aina-Scott disclosed that this, to a large extent is one of the cardinal objectives of the TNAA, noting that the event is annually choreographed to take care of varied interests that will galvanise the public to pay desired attention. “Last year’s ovation at the TNAA, where a beauty queen, in the name of Miss Automobile was crowned, still reverberates one year after and has kept the public interest in the event on high tempo. It will be a good advantage therefore if other important issues on the industry can sustain such public interest”, he said.

The Convener revealed that the Board of Awards Committee, which includes carefully selected men and women of integrity with knowledge and experience in the auto industry have been saddled with the onerous task of picking eventual winners from the numerous nominations received from the public. He noted that the award is in three main categories: The auto support services awards, Tyre awards and Auto awards.

“Like previous editions, the award will recognize astute managers of men who have distinguished themselves in all aspects of the industry. Their individual and collective roles towards resuscitation of manufacturing and job creation, ensuring product penetration, diversification and versatility, innovation and after-sales services, not forgetting brand building shall be considered” Aina-Scott declared.

According to him, the award is designed to encourage and reward good corporate governance, creativity, customer satisfaction, innovations, market leadership and management integrity in the Nigerian auto industry.

Managing Editor of the magazine, Mrs. Julie Chi-Nwaoha said this year’s awards will be scintillating and interesting as rich entertainment and a fashion event have been lined up. According to her, a fashion parade designed to build a bridge between the old and the new “schools” has been choreographed to entertain the audience. This, she said is to set the mood for the event as other high-wired entertainment sketches have also been lined-up.

Mrs. Chi-Nwaoha said that there are well over thirty brands of automobiles in Nigeria which are represented by franchised dealerships “and most of the brands are really doing well in the market. Unlike what obtained in the previous years when we only had a few after sales centers, things are different now as all the franchisees and even the brands now have almost perfect after-sales centres. This to me is a development in the industry, and will definitely play a vital role in the award” she said

The event which was instituted by On Wheels magazine in year 2004 had its maiden edition in 2005 and has consistently celebrated companies and individuals who have distinguished themselves in Nigeria’s automotive industry.