FG to supply six-seater electric tricycles, charging station to Offa Polytechnic

FG to supply six-seater electric tricycles, charging station to Offa Polytechnic

The Federal Government has approved the supply of six-seater electric tricycles and the construction of a modern electric vehicle charging station at the Federal Polytechnic, Offa, Kwara State, as part of efforts to promote clean transportation, innovation and technical skills development.

The institution is among the selected beneficiaries of the One Product, One Polytechnic (OPOP) initiative, a Federal Government intervention designed to promote innovation, technology transfer, entrepreneurship and institutional self-reliance across Nigeria’s polytechnics.

The approval was conveyed to the institution by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), according to the polytechnic’s spokesperson, Olayinka Iroye.

Iroye said the intervention would provide the institution with six-seater electric tricycles for campus transportation and a modern charging station to support their operation.

He said the project would go beyond improving intra-campus mobility, as it would also expose students to practical applications of electric mobility, renewable energy systems and sustainable engineering.

The development comes as Federal Polytechnic Offa expands its focus on emerging green technologies and electric vehicle development.

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The institution recently attracted attention with the successful design, development and unveiling of its indigenous electric vehicle, OKIN EV1, which was developed as part of its efforts to strengthen local capacity in electric vehicle technology.

The new government-backed intervention is expected to complement that achievement by providing students and researchers with greater access to electric mobility infrastructure and practical applications of the technology.

The polytechnic has also entered into a strategic partnership with Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC), a Nigerian indigenous electric vehicle manufacturer, to accelerate the development and commercialisation of locally produced electric vehicles.

The partnership is expected to support joint research and innovation in electric vehicle engineering, battery technology, renewable energy systems and component fabrication.

It will also provide students and researchers with opportunities for industry exposure, practical training and skills development in areas linked to the emerging electric vehicle industry in Nigeria.

According to the institution, the collaboration will facilitate technology transfer, innovation and commercialisation, while helping to develop specialised manpower required for Nigeria’s growing electric mobility ecosystem.

The partnership also provides for the deployment of modern electric vehicle charging infrastructure at the polytechnic, with the institution seeking to establish itself as a major electric vehicle charging hub in Kwara State.

The combination of the OPOP intervention, the electric vehicle charging project, the OKIN EV1 development and the EMVC partnership is expected to strengthen the institution’s position as a centre for electric mobility, sustainable transportation and green technology.

The electric tricycle project could also provide a practical platform for students to gain experience in the operation, maintenance and development of electric mobility systems, while researchers can use the infrastructure to advance work in areas such as batteries, charging systems, renewable energy and electric vehicle engineering.

The initiative is part of a broader shift towards cleaner transportation in Nigeria, as government institutions, educational establishments and private-sector operators increasingly explore electric vehicles as an alternative to petrol- and diesel-powered transport.

For Federal Polytechnic Offa, the intervention is expected to combine improved campus transportation with technical education, research, innovation and entrepreneurship, potentially creating a stronger link between classroom learning and the country’s emerging electric mobility sector.

FG to supply six-seater electric tricycles, charging station to Offa Polytechnic