The Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has officially announced the second edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Summit (NAISU), scheduled for Thursday, July 31, 2025, at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) Conference Centre, Alausa, Ikeja, Lagos.
This year’s summit is themed “Nigeria First: Local Content as Catalyst for Automotive Economy”, reflecting a bold push to prioritize indigenous manufacturing and local capacity development in the nation’s auto industry.
Shaping a Locally Driven Automotive Ecosystem
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), the summit seeks to move beyond dialogue and into action by assembling critical voices from government, manufacturing, trade, and regulatory sectors.
At its core, NAISU 2025 aims to deepen the national dialogue on local content integration, foster a sense of industrial sovereignty, and support the Federal Government’s Nigeria First initiative, which encourages the patronage of locally assembled vehicles.
High-Level Participation and Thought Leadership
The event will be declared open by the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, while Joseph Oluwemimo Osanipin, Director-General of the NADDC, will serve as the chief host.
Key figures expected to present include:
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Chief Anselm Ilekuba, Chairman, Association of Local Content Manufacturers (ALCMAN)
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Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, Comptroller-General, Nigeria Customs Service (NCS)
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Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON)
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Hon. Ngozi Emechebe, President, Auto Spare Parts and Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA)
Strategic Objectives and Industry Insight
According to Mike Ochonma, Chairman of the NAISU Planning Committee, the summit is designed to align public and private sector efforts:
“Local content is more than a policy. It’s a national strategy for job creation, skill development, and long-term industrial growth. NAISU 2025 will be a catalyst for practical steps beyond reliance on imported solutions.”
Theodore Opara, Chairman of NAJA, reinforced the summit’s significance in informing policy:
“As journalists covering the auto sector, we recognize that information shapes outcomes. NAISU is NAJA’s commitment to supporting an informed, resilient, and locally powered auto economy.”
Key Areas for Deliberation
NAISU 2025 will feature keynote addresses, panel discussions, and networking sessions, all focused on actionable strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s domestic automotive industry. Topics will include:
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Custom tariff structures and incentives for local assembly
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Supply chain localization and small-scale manufacturing
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Technology transfer and skilled workforce development
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Regulatory enforcement and standardization practices
A Growing Forum for Africa’s Automotive Ambitions
Now gaining recognition as Nigeria’s premier annual auto policy forum, NAISU is poised to influence not only national discourse but also broader continental aspirations for industrial autonomy in Africa’s largest economy.
