University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, has emerged as the overall winner of the National Automotive Design and Development Council’s (NADDC) inaugural 8-Seater Electric Vehicle (EV) Campus Shuttle Bus Design Competition.
The grand finale, held on Friday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), saw the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) clinch the first runner-up position. In contrast, the University of Abuja secured the second runner-up spot. The competition, which started on March 6, featured 12 participating universities from across Nigeria.
Mr. Emmanuel Ikegwuonu, from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at UNIBEN, who made a presentation on behalf of his team, stated that 50% of the materials were locally sourced. He explained the partnership with local suppliers and auto manufacturers and how the design captured the benefits of people, profit and the planet.
Prof. Osarobo Ighodaro, from UNIBEN, who supervised the overall winning team, explained the technical aspects that went into the supervision and how they were simplified for the students. Earlier, while announcing the winners, Prof. Ibrahim Rufai, from Bayero University Kano, explained the selection criteria and industrial requirements. A team comprised of 20 people, comprising 10 students from various faculties, five lecturers, two industry experts and the rest technicians. Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, after presenting awards and plaques to winners and other stakeholders, announced cash rewards for all participating schools.
Osanipin said each of the 12 participating schools would receive N2 million, the first runner-up N3 million, the second runner-up N4 million, and the overall winners, UNIBEN, would receive N5 million. He stated that the core aim of the competition was to foster local content in vehicle design for Nigerian use and potential export. Osanipin described the university community as a fertile ground for the execution of any idea, adding that the competition was the first of its kind in the nation.
The DG explained the multidisciplinary efforts that went into the design of the electric vehicle and the need for collaboration between all stakeholders to promote production in Nigeria. “They have built possibilities, and shown to us that we can have cleaner mobility in Nigeria,” he said.
