Zenith Bank tops awards list as Toyota Nigeria celebrates three decades of excellence

Zenith Bank Plc has emerged as the biggest winner at the 2026 Toyota Awards and Customers’ Night, clinching the coveted Evergreen Customer of the Year Award for the second consecutive year in recognition of its exceptional patronage of Toyota vehicles over the past five years.

The colourful event, held on Friday, May 5, 2026, at The Podium Event Centre in Lekki, Lagos, brought together an impressive gathering of customers, dealers, government officials, corporate partners, media practitioners and industry stakeholders to celebrate the achievements of Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL) and strengthen the partnerships that have sustained its leadership in Nigeria’s automotive industry.

The annual awards ceremony serves as a platform to reward loyal customers, honour strategic partners and reinforce the company’s customer-first philosophy.

The highlight of the evening came when representatives of Zenith Bank were invited to the stage to receive the prestigious award for purchasing the highest number of Toyota vehicles from TNL dealerships in 2025.

The banking giant also secured the same honour last year after emerging as the customer with the highest cumulative vehicle purchases between 2020 and 2024.

In recognition of the feat, Chairman and founder of Toyota Nigeria Limited, Chief Michael Ade-Ojo, presented Zenith Bank with the keys to a brand-new Toyota Starlet Cross.

The competition in the Customer of the Year category was equally keen. AGL Motors emerged as the overall winner, while the Nigerian Army and Zenith Bank finished as first and second runners-up respectively. The winners received office equipment worth several millions of naira.

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The 2026 edition of the awards carried special significance as Toyota Nigeria celebrated its 30th anniversary, marking three decades of operations since its establishment in 1996.

In keeping with its tradition of recognising contributors across its business ecosystem, Toyota Nigeria also honoured outstanding automotive journalists whose reports and analyses helped shape public understanding of developments in the industry.

Veteran motoring journalist, Theodore Opara, was named Journalist of the Year for his consistent coverage of the automotive sector and insightful reporting on industry trends and Toyota’s innovations.

Mike Ochonma emerged as the first runner-up, while Rasheed Bisiriyu was recognised as the second runner-up for their contributions to automotive journalism, particularly in the areas of vehicle technology, mobility solutions and market analysis.

Earlier in his keynote address, Managing Director of TNL, Kunle Ade-Ojo reflected on the company’s journey, describing the milestone as a testament to resilience, innovation and customer loyalty.

“Tonight is a moment of reflection, celebration and renewed commitment,” he said.

“For us at Toyota Nigeria, this annual gathering is more than a tradition. It is a deliberate expression of our enduring philosophy of putting the customer first. It provides a unique platform to honour the loyalty, trust and partnership that have defined our journey over the years.”

According to him, Toyota Nigeria has evolved from modest beginnings into one of the country’s most trusted automotive brands through a relentless focus on quality, reliability and service excellence.

“Since commencing operations in 1996, our journey has been defined by resilience, growth and transformation. Our progress over the past three decades has been anchored on one unwavering principle—creating value for our customers.

“Beyond delivering vehicles that meet diverse mobility needs, we have invested significantly in building a nationwide after-sales ecosystem designed to provide a seamless and premium ownership experience.”

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Ade-Ojo assured customers and stakeholders that Toyota Nigeria would continue to innovate and improve its products and services despite prevailing economic challenges.

Several dealers and business partners used the occasion to commend Toyota Nigeria for its continuous investments in dealer development, training initiatives and workshop upgrades aimed at improving service delivery nationwide.

Ade-Ojo expressed gratitude to Toyota Nigeria’s extensive network of stakeholders, including dealers, customers, suppliers, consultants, financial institutions and employees.

“The journey of the past 30 years would not have been possible without the unwavering support and contributions of our stakeholders,” he said.

The managing director also acknowledged the support of Toyota Nigeria’s principal partner, Toyota Motor Corporation, as well as the company’s board of directors led by Chief Ade.Ojo.

He further assured customers that Toyota Nigeria would continue to introduce customer-friendly initiatives designed to make vehicle ownership more accessible despite economic headwinds.

“Despite the monumental challenges in the economy, Toyota Nigeria will continue to devise means that will enable our customers to enjoy their preferred auto brand—Toyota. We will continue to initiate customer-friendly business improvement strategies aimed at making our vehicles more affordable.