The University of Benin (UNIBEN) in Edo State has emerged the overall winner of the national Automotive Design and Development Council’s (NADDC) maiden seater Electric Vehicle (EV) Campus shuttle Design competition for Nigerian Universities.
The federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, Imo State, clinched the first runner-up spot, while the University of Abuja, (UNIABUJA), emerged the second runner-up position on Friday July 25th at the grand finale of the competition at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State, started on March 6th.
12 top Nigerian Universities, cutting across the six geopolitical zones of the federation participated in the competition, according to federal government-backed NADDC green projects.
The institutions, include Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, Modibbo Adamu University of Technology, MAUTECH, Yola, Adamawa State, federal University of Technology (FUTO), Owerri, Imo State, University of Abuja, (UNIABUJA) and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ABTU), Sokoto State.
Others are University of Nigeria (UN), Nsukka, Enugu State, Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), Osun State, University of Port Harcourt, River State and Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, University of Ilorin (UNILORIN), University of Calabar (UNICAL), Cross River State and University of Lagos (UNILAG), Lagos State.
Prof. Osarobo Ighodaro from the University of Benin who supervised the the institution’s team, said a team of 20 people, comprising 10 students from the various Faculties of Engineering, five lecturers, two industry experts and three Technicians.
The competition was designed to foster local content in vehicle design for Nigerians use and potential export, according to Mr Emmanuel Ikegwuonu from the Department of Engineering in UNIBEN, who revealed that 50 of the materials used for the electric vehicle design were locally sourced in partnership with local suppliers and Auto manufacturers.
In his presentation made on behalf of the participating UNIBEN’ students, Ikegwuonu noted that the design captured the benefits of people, profit and planet.
Announcing the winners of the contest earlier, Prof. Ibrahim Rufai from Bayero University, Kano State, explained the selection criteria and industrial requirements.
After presenting the awards and plaques to winners and other stakeholders, Oluwemimo Osinipin, Director-General of NADDC said announced rewards to all overall participants at the event.
Each 12 participating institutions will get N2 million each, the second runner-up will get N3 million while the first runner-up will pick N4 billion while the overall winner will receive N5 million, Osinipin said.
He also describe the University Community is a fertile ground for the execution of ideas, adding value to the competition in.
The Director General explained the multidisciplinary efforts that went into the design of electric vehicle and sued for the need for collaboration amongst stakeholders towards promoting vehicle production in Nigeria.
On his part, the Vice Chancellor of University of Lagos (UNILAG), Folashade Ogunsola, represented by by Prof. Wale Okunuga, Director of Research Management office in the institution, noted that the initiative aligns with the institution’s gree n project.
Delivering his goodwill message on the occasion, the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, represented by his Special Adviser, Odusanya Adedamola, revealed that the initiative aligns with the vision and substanable industrialization and economic growth that depends on homegrown solutions and technological capacity.
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