NAJA sets stage for Nigeria Auto Industry Summit 2025, pushes local content as key to sector revival

The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has announced that the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU) will take place on Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja.

With the theme “Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy,” the summit will gather leading voices across government, manufacturing, trade, and regulatory sectors to develop actionable strategies aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s automotive industry through homegrown solutions.

The 2025 summit is being organized in collaboration with the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the Nigeria Association of Automotive Manufacturers (NAMA), and the African Association of Automobile Manufacturers (AAAM).

According to NAJA, the summit will spotlight the Federal Government’s “Nigeria’s First” policy, which encourages the patronage of locally assembled vehicles. The dialogue will focus on how improved local content and industrial participation can drive long-term sustainability for Nigeria’s auto sector.

Hon. Jumoke Oduwole, Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, will formally open the summit, while Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of NADDC, is billed as the Chief Host.

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Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the NAISU Planning Committee, emphasized the summit’s role in fostering policy alignment and stakeholder engagement.

“This year’s summit focuses on how local content can drive sustainable industrialization in Nigeria’s auto sector,” he said. “We are bringing the right voices together—from customs and standards regulators to local manufacturers and importers—so that solutions are practical, inclusive, and forward-looking.”

Notable industry figures expected to speak include: Chief Anselm Ilekuba, Chairman, Association of Local Content Manufacturers (ALCMAN); Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS); Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON); Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, President, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) among many others.

Theodore Opara, Chairman of NAJA, reinforced the association’s commitment to national development through informed reporting and engagement.

“As journalists covering the automotive beat, we recognize our role in shaping industry narratives. NAISU is our contribution to a resilient, policy-informed auto sector built on Nigeria’s resources, talent, and innovation,” he said.

With Nigeria’s auto industry struggling under the weight of import dependency and weak production capacity, NAISU 2025 is poised to become a critical forum for charting a locally-driven path forward.

Stakeholders seeking to participate, partner, or make inquiries are encouraged to contact the NAJA Secretariat or visit the association’s official communication channels.