An assistant editor with the Punch (newspapers), Rasheed Bisiriyu, has been named as the motoring journalist of the year (2018) by Toyota Nigeria Limited.
Bisiriyu, now the news and politics editor, Sunday PUNCH, was until recently the Transport editor of The Punch.
Theodore Opara of the Vanguard and Mike Ochonma of Businessday also emerged the first runner-up and second runner-up, respectively in the journalists’ category of the award event held in Lagos on Thursday, April 11, 2019.
In the customers’ category of the award, First Bank of Nigeria Limited clinched the ‘Evergreen Customer of the Year award; the Ministry of Defence, came first; the Department of Petroleum Resources, second; and MTN, third.
According to the organisers of the annual event, the TNL, the awards were given in recognition of the contributions of the journalists to the auto industry in Nigeria and the moderate achievements of the Toyota Nigeria through sales last year.
The Chairman, Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, while speaking at the event, commended the motoring journalists for their objective reports which had kept the auto industry going against all odds.
He said despite the weakened purchasing power of average Nigerians, which made it difficult to buy new vehicles, the media had continued to educate firms and individuals on the benefits of owning new automobiles and aftersale services, where and how to get such products and services.
“The Nigerian economy has experienced a series of crises over the years. The last few years, in particular, have been extremely tough. The purchasing power of the average Nigerians 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 inevitably resulted in a huge stop in sales of vehicles.”
The Head, Dealers Development and Special Projects, Mr Henry Ojuoko, said out entries sent in by many motoring journalists from different media houses, those from the three winners stood out.
He commended them their developmental journalism, which had helped the industry and the economy.
the evergreen award is for customers that have consistently patronised the Toyota brand over the years.
As the evergreen customer of the year, First Bank which also won the same award last year was rewarded with the latest model of new Toyota Yaris.
Ade.Ojo said their customers had supported the leading auto firm immensely, adding that they had continued to be their source of strength.
The support, Ade-Ojo said, had made the TNL a force to reckon with in the automobile industry in the country.
