Taiwo Shittu dedicates Vanguard Auto Icon award to father, unveils company expansion plans

In a deeply emotional moment at the Vanguard Newspaper Auto Awards, the Managing Director of Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM), Mr. Taiwo Shittu, dedicated his Auto Icon Award to his late father and company founder, Alhaji Rasaki Shittu, crediting him as the visionary behind the company’s success.

The award presentation, held at the prestigious Eko Hotel and Suites in Lagos, brought together top stakeholders in Nigeria’s automotive and transport sectors to celebrate excellence and industry leadership.

“I dedicate this award to my late father,” Mr. Shittu said in his acceptance speech. “He was a man of vision who groomed us to be independent. I remain eternally indebted to him.”

Beyond the public accolade, Shittu expressed gratitude to his family, emphasizing the collective commitment of his siblings in preserving their father’s legacy. With 19 siblings, he noted that while not all are actively involved in the business, each remains invested in LSM’s continued growth.

“We have a very supportive family. Even those not directly involved in the business are working behind the scenes to ensure its success,” he noted. “I am deeply thankful that they trust me to lead this vast business empire.”

The award, he said, is not just a personal milestone but also a reminder of the weight of responsibility he carries as the face of one of Nigeria’s leading automotive brands.

“It feels good, but more importantly, it challenges me. It tells me that people are watching, that I have more to offer the industry, and that I must keep pushing forward. I give glory to Almighty Allah for making this honour possible.”

Shittu also used the opportunity to unveil a major strategic milestone: Lanre Shittu Motors is set to open the first phase of its large-scale vehicle assembly plant in Ogun State before the end of the year.

The facility will drive the production of the company’s recently launched LSM automobile brand, significantly bolstering Nigeria’s local manufacturing capacity and reducing dependency on fully built imported vehicles.

“The Ogun plant is a major step forward,” Shittu said. “We are determined to deepen our local assembly capacity and create more jobs for Nigerians. This is just the beginning.”

READ ALSO: Lanre Shittu Motors backs NADDC’s electric shuttle bus design competition for Nigerian Universities

Turning to policy matters, the LSM boss called on the Federal Government to prioritize the passage of Nigeria’s automotive policy into law to ensure lasting investor confidence and sustainability in the sector.

“To win investors from anywhere in the world, you must guarantee the safety of their investments,” he stated. “And the only way to do that is by having a well-articulated auto policy passed into law by the National Assembly.”

Industry stakeholders have long expressed concern about the lack of legislative backing for Nigeria’s automotive roadmap, a gap that continues to hinder large-scale foreign investment and stifle local manufacturers.

Addressing President Bola Tinubu’s push for Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) adoption as part of the national energy transition strategy, Shittu confirmed that Lanre Shittu Motors is already converting many of its vehicles to run on CNG in alignment with government objectives.

However, he urged the administration to ensure inclusivity in its policy waivers and incentives, particularly for local assembly plants that are not currently covered under existing schemes for electric and CNG vehicle operators.

“We are fully in support of the CNG drive,” he affirmed. “But we urge the government to extend special waivers and incentives to all local auto assemblers. We can’t build a robust industry if we exclude key players from vital policy benefits.”

“Taiwo Shittu represents a new generation of Nigerian auto executives who are not only driving business growth but also influencing national policy,” said Chinedu Okeke, an automotive economist.

“His call for legal backing is both timely and essential if Nigeria hopes to become a serious player in automotive manufacturing.”