UNIBEN clinches top prize at National Electric Vehicle Design Competition, wins N5m

UNIBEN clinches top prize at National Electric Vehicle Design Competition, wins N5m

 

The University of Benin (UNIBEN), Edo State, has emerged as the overall winner of the inaugural 8-Seater Electric Vehicle (EV) Campus Shuttle Bus Design Competition, organized by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). The event, aimed at fostering local innovation in sustainable transportation, concluded on Friday at the University of Lagos (UNILAG).

Twelve universities from across Nigeria participated in the competition, which kicked off on March 6. UNIBEN’s innovative design secured them the grand prize of N5 million, while the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO), and the University of Abuja claimed the first and second runner-up spots, earning N4 million and N3 million respectively. All other participating institutions received N2 million each.

Mr. Emmanuel Ikegwuonu from UNIBEN’s Department of Mechanical Engineering led the presentation of the winning project. He highlighted that 50% of the materials used in the EV design were locally sourced, reflecting strong partnerships with local suppliers and auto manufacturers. The design, he said, was guided by the principles of sustainability — focusing on people, profit, and the planet.

Prof. Osarobo Ighodaro, who supervised the UNIBEN team, explained the technical mentoring that simplified complex engineering concepts for the students and promoted hands-on learning.

In his remarks, NADDC Director-General, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, emphasized the broader goals of the initiative. “This competition was designed to encourage local innovation and demonstrate that Nigerian universities are fertile ground for ideas that can transform the automotive industry,” he said. He added that the next phase of the project — production of the winning EV design — would begin soon in collaboration with the private sector and NADDC support.

Osanipin praised the efforts of students, faculty members, industry experts, and policymakers involved in the event. “They’ve built more than just a prototype — they’ve built possibilities. This is a step toward a Nigeria that not only consumes technology but also produces and exports it,” he stated.

The initiative aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu, which emphasizes industrial growth through local innovation and production.

Speaking on behalf of the Minister of State for Industry, Senator John Enoh, Special Adviser Mr. Odunsanya Adedamola commended the initiative’s alignment with the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIRP) and the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP). He underscored the importance of empowering youth through innovation and skills development as the foundation for sustainable industrialization.

“Government, academia, and industry must continue to collaborate. What we are witnessing today is a demonstration of what’s possible when policy meets youthful ingenuity,” he said.

The Vice Chancellor of UNILAG, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, represented by Prof. Wale Okunuga, highlighted how the competition aligns with UNILAG’s broader green initiatives.

Other speakers, including members of the National Assembly, echoed the growing need for clean mobility solutions in Nigeria, stressing the environmental and economic benefits of producing electric vehicles locally.

Participating universities spanned Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones and included:

Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria

Usmanu Danfodiyo University, Sokoto

Modibbo Adama University of Technology (MAUTECH), Yola

University of Nigeria, Nsukka

Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife

University of Port Harcourt

University of Ilorin

Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU), Bauchi.

The event marks a significant step toward homegrown, sustainable transportation solutions in Nigeria, with universities at the forefront of driving innovation.