TheCable

Work and Play, leading promoter of motorsport in Nigeria, has bagged the ‘Best Tourism Promotion Initiative’ award at the 2020 edition of Nigeria Tourism Awards.

The award ceremony held on Saturday in Lagos.

Adeoye Ojuoko, president of the motorsport group, said the award underscored the importance of a sustained focus on national development.

“The past year was a difficult one because of the Covid-19 pandemic as we had our calendar decimated while most of the racers and even sponsors got extra cautious with a little window to host one or two events,” he said.

“Our team resorted to collaboration and we pulled off three of the biggest motorsports activities in the country last year. We look forward to a more eventful 2021 while hoping the efforts to curb the pandemic would be sustained.”

Ojuoko said racers and motorsports enthusiasts would hit the tracks of Ilara-Imokin and Akure for the return of the Ondo auto rally in April as the official 2021 season’s opening event.

He dedicated the award to members of his group whom he said showed tremendous faith in Work and Play’s vision to use motorsport as a vehicle to stimulate tourism, economic growth, youth engagement and professionalism.

Also speaking, Efetobo Awhana, president of the Nigeria Tourism Awards, commended Work and Play for its resilience despite the challenges that confronted motorsport in the country.

Awhana described Work and Play’s innovative partnership as a rare example for the industry in the wake of the pandemic challenge in 2020.

Work and Play achieved the feat for its achievements in 2020 which include partnership with BMW Nigeria Club for the 2020 Lagos Autofest, the Fanfaro Autofest in Ibadan as well as Zuru Sports Autofest in Kebbi state.