AUTO MAKERS, MARKETERS GEAR UP FOR LAGOS MOTOR FAIR

By NBF News
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BKG Exhibitions Limited, organizer of the annual Lagos Motor Fair and Autparts Expo, is partnering with Steam Broadcasting & Communication Limited (owners of 96.9 Cool FM, 95.1 Wazobia FM and 99.3 Nigeria Info FM), to ensure adequate publicity for the fair which opens on Wednesday, April 18 at the Tafawa Balewa Square , Onikan, Lagos.

This is coming at a time when more leading auto companies , including the Kano-based National Trucks Manufacturers Limited [NTM], is showing interest in the annual event which is in its seventh edition this year.

These hints were dropped by Ifeanyichukwu Agwu, Managing Director of BKG Exhibitions Limited who said during  an interactive session with the press, that the partnership was in furtherance of the organizer's resolve to make the fair beneficial for both the participating companies and visitors..

According to him, the FM stations, which he described as leaders in the broadcast business in Nigeria, would be bringing to bear on the partnership their strength and pedigree – by regularly carrying the pre-event activities to the public through the airwaves to generate interest in the fair; as well as provide actual coverage during the exhibition .

'The choice of these stations stem from their wide reach, acceptance and professionalism; they are all must tune in to by virtually all segments of people that form the target visitors and participants to the event.  They have mass appeal and are highly listened to in Lagos and environs. Cool FM is the toast of the upper, educated and urbane; Wazobia is the choice of the masses and Nigeria Info is a bridge and also has the large population of sports lovers and lovers of talk shows as its patrons; so with them the airwaves will be highly saturated with the activities of the event and its messages will reach the nooks and crannies thereby giving high mileages to both the participants and other stakeholders in the event.

'Agwu further stated that the auto industry is vital to any economy , and as such needs all the support and encouragement it can get from the public and private sectors, explaining that this  informed the need for a leader in the broadcast industry in Nigeria , to partner the organizers of the 7th Lagos Motor Fair and Autoparts Expo Nigeria .

The Managing Director stated: 'It is indeed a very good and commendable development in the industry. For a tested broadcasting Organization such as Steam Broadcast & Communication with its flagship stations: Cool 96.9 FM, Wazobia 95.1FM and Nigeria Info 99.3FM to find it auspicious to become an official partner to the fair at this time, shows that the management of the company have a good understanding of the sector in Nigeria and believes strongly that it is worth developing. It is another demonstration of key support to the stakeholders in the automotive industry in their efforts to take the sector to the highest level'.

Meanwhile, National Trucks Manufacturers Limited (NTM), one of the many companies that have booked stands to participate in the fair, plans to exhibit  light t trucks, tractors, pick-ups, CUVs, tippers, trailer heads, tankers, cargo trucks, garbage trucks, as well as passenger vehicles, including Hover and many more. The largest truck manufacturer in Nigeria will be at the event with the latest products from their partners – CNHTC, Greatwall, Qingqi and DF-Motors.

Participants that will be making their debut are: Weststar Associates Limited (authorized Mercedes-Benz distributors in Nigeria); Lagos-based Boulous Enterprises Limited,, makers of Haojue Suzuki motorcycles and Piaggio tricycles; as well as Leyland Busan, a bus manufacturer in Ibadan.

Others like Infinity Tyres (a popular tyre and related services firm), Falken Tyres, Primewell Tyres and   Comar Tyre & Rubber Industrial Company Limited, distributors of Comar Tyres, would be showcasing sundry products at the expo. They will be joining a long list of reputable regular partipants and big players in the auto industry, namely PAN Nigeria, Toyota Nigeria, Basco Motors Limited [JAC brand of Chinese vehicles}, Leventis Motors, and BriscoeFord. On the list too are Oando Nigeria Plc, First Systems Fefishes (SIKKENS), Mobil Oil, First Bank Plc, Sterling Bank Plc, GT Assur and a few others.

On sensitization of decision makers and the public by BKG, Agwu disclosed: 'We have been reaching out to key business, trade, professional, corporate and high net-worth individual prospects to visit the fair. Also decision makers in the government circle have been invited…We are reaching out to buyers, transporters, traders, and dealers etc to invite them to the fair in their large numbers. Heavy publicity campaigns are being deployed to promote the event extensively in Nigeria and abroad.'

He also said that many foreign Original Equipment Manufacturing firms have equally booked to take part in the forthcoming event.