The Nigerian automotive industry is set to honour another distinguished personality as the Nigeria Auto Journalists Association (NAJA) has named Chief Benson Uwatse, Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, recipient of the prestigious Nigeria Auto Legend Award at the 19th Nigeria Auto Industry Awards.
The recognition places Uwatse in an exclusive league of industry leaders whose vision, enterprise and contributions have helped shape the growth and development of Nigeria’s automotive sector over several decades.
He becomes the third prominent industry figure to receive the honour, following Chief Michael Ade.Ojo, Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, and Dr. Cosmas Maduka, President and Chief Executive Officer of Coscharis Group.
Uwatse’s recognition underscores his longstanding involvement in Nigeria’s automotive business and his role in the development and representation of the globally renowned Mercedes-Benz brand in the country.
As Chairman of Weststar Associates Limited, the authorised general distributor of Mercedes-Benz in Nigeria, Uwatse occupies a strategic position in the country’s premium and luxury automobile market.
Weststar coordinates Mercedes-Benz business operations in Nigeria, covering passenger cars, commercial vehicles, trucks and buses. Its responsibilities also include dealer support, marketing, training, genuine spare parts distribution, warranties and after-sales services.
The company officially commenced operations in February 2008, taking over responsibility for Mercedes-Benz sales and after-sales operations in Nigeria. Through its distribution network and authorised dealerships, it provides sales and maintenance support across different parts of the country.
Uwatse’s association with the Mercedes-Benz brand spans more than three decades, giving him extensive experience in premium automobile distribution, customer relations and brand development.
His industry involvement has also included leadership responsibilities within the Mercedes-Benz dealership network, notably as Managing Director of MB Automobile Services Limited, one of the authorised Mercedes-Benz dealers in Nigeria.
The Nigeria Auto Legend Award is reserved for individuals whose contributions transcend routine business operations and have made significant impacts on the growth, advancement and development of the country’s automotive industry.
Chief Ade.Ojo, founder of Elizade Nigeria Limited and Chairman of Toyota Nigeria Limited, became the first recipient of the special industry recognition in 2017, in acknowledgement of his decades of investment, entrepreneurship and contributions to Nigeria’s automobile business.
Similarly, Dr. Maduka earned the recognition for transforming Coscharis from a modest automobile trading venture into one of Nigeria’s leading indigenous conglomerates. Under his leadership, Coscharis Motors secured distribution franchises for several internationally renowned automobile brands, including BMW, MINI, Rolls-Royce and Ford.
Uwatse’s emergence as the third recipient further reinforces NAJA’s commitment to celebrating individuals whose leadership, enterprise and industry experience have contributed significantly to the evolution of Nigeria’s automotive landscape.
The 19th edition of the Nigeria Auto Industry Awards, organised by NAJA, is scheduled to hold on Thursday, December 3, 2026, at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The annual event brings together automobile manufacturers, distributors, dealers, policymakers, regulators, industry professionals and other stakeholders to celebrate outstanding achievements and recognise excellence across Nigeria’s automotive and transportation sectors.