The maiden edition of the Nigerian Drivers Challenge, popularly known as the ‘Naija Driver Challenge’, will culminate in a grand finale on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the National Stadium, Surulere, Lagos.
The event, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., will feature seven finalists who emerged from a nationwide competition that attracted 160 registered drivers from 23 states of the federation.
The hybrid competition, combining online and physical activities, was initiated to promote responsible driving, road safety awareness, professionalism and excellence among motorists in Nigeria.
Following the preliminary assessment stages, which had a 60 per cent pass mark, seven candidates qualified for the final stage of the competition.
The grand finale will feature practical driving assessments designed by the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute (LASDRI) to evaluate participants’ driving competence, vehicle control, road-use awareness and compliance with safe driving principles.
The final scores will combine candidates’ performance in the Computer-Based Test (CBT) with their practical driving assessments to determine the overall winner.
Beyond the competition, the initiative seeks to contribute to efforts to improve road safety by encouraging higher driving standards, responsible road behaviour and greater public awareness of the responsibilities that come with operating motor vehicles.
The event is expected to attract representatives of government agencies, road safety institutions, automotive industry stakeholders, sponsors, invited guests, members of the media and the general public.
The organising team has been working with relevant stakeholders, particularly LASDRI, on preparations for the practical assessments and the overall event.
The grand finale will also highlight the importance of driver education, continuous professional training and practical evaluations as essential measures for promoting safer roads and reducing preventable road crashes.
Ahead of the event, the organisers expressed appreciation to participating drivers, institutional partners, sponsors and supporting organisations for their contributions towards the successful execution of the maiden edition.
The institutional partners include the Lagos State Drivers’ Institute, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) and Automobile and Touring Club of Nigeria.
Sponsors are Skinetics Aesthetics Skin Care Clinic and Med Spa, BUA Cement, Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc and AXA Mansard Health Limited.
Other supporting organisations include Lagos State Signage Agency, Lagos State Safety Commission, Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) and Work and Play.
Speaking on the vision behind the initiative, Project Director, Adrian Egonu, said the challenge was conceived out of the conviction that safer roads begin with responsible, competent and professional drivers.
He expressed satisfaction with the response to the maiden edition, noting that the 160 registrations from 23 states and the emergence of seven finalists demonstrated the potential of the initiative.
According to him, the finalists emerged after a rigorous, proctored online Computer-Based Test.
Egonu said: “This is more than a driving competition. It is a platform for promoting road safety consciousness, improving driving standards and celebrating excellence behind the wheel.
“We hope the initiative will inspire Nigerian motorists to take greater responsibility for their conduct on our roads”.
Also speaking, the Project’s Head of Administration, Modupeola Elegba, invited members of the public to attend the inaugural grand finale.
Elegba said feedback from participants who completed the training and CBT assessments had been encouraging, particularly regarding the knowledge they acquired about safe road usage and the ease of participating through the project’s online platform.
She said the positive responses had strengthened the organisers’ resolve to sustain and expand the initiative in subsequent editions.
The Nigerian Drivers Challenge is expected to establish a sustainable platform for recognising competent drivers while encouraging motorists to embrace safety, discipline and professionalism as essential elements of responsible motoring.
Members of the public, industry stakeholders and the media have been invited to attend the grand finale.