The origins of Elizade date back to 1968, when Chief Michael Ade Ojo founded Elizade Trading Stores. The name “Elizade” itself is a thoughtful combination of “Elizabeth,” his wife’s name, and “Ade,” his middle name. Initially, the business focused on general textile sales, including undergarments.
In 1971, Chief Ade Ojo expanded into automobile marketing through the establishment of Elizade Independent Agencies, and by 1972, the company was formally incorporated as Elizade Nigeria Limited. The company got a federal government licence in 1979 to become a direct distributor of Toyota vehicles and spare parts in Nigeria.
Over the years, Elizade Nigeria Limited has consistently been marketing, selling and servicing Toyota vehicles in the country and it’s among the top dealers of Toyota in Nigeria, maintaining 4 branches in Lagos and several others across the country.
In 1996, Elizade entered into a partnership with R.T. Briscoe and the East Asiatic Company of Japan to establish Toyota Nigeria Limited (TNL), which became the sole importer and distributor of Toyota products in the country. Through this partnership, Elizade has continued to market “tropicalized” Toyota vehicles, models adapted for the Nigerian climate and terrain, to ensure relevance and reliability to its customers.
The company has also remained the exclusive franchise owner of the Toyota brand in Nigeria. Beyond selling cars, Elizade also offers after-sales service, spare parts, maintenance support, and customer service.
