Shocking Success: UNIBEN wins Inaugural Electric Vehicle Competition

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The University of Benin (UNIBEN) 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 competition, which started on March 6, featured 12 participating universities from across Nigeria.

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The grand finale, held at the University of Lagos (UNILAG), saw the Federal University of Technology, Owerri (FUTO) clinch the first runner-up position, while the University of Abuja secured the second runner-up spot. According to the Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Osanipin, the competition aimed to foster local content in vehicle design for Nigerian use and potential export.

Osanipin commended the participating students, lecturers, and industry experts, stating, “They have built possibilities and shown to us that we can have cleaner mobility in Nigeria.” He added that the next phase, involving the production of the vehicle in collaboration with the private sector and NADDC support, would begin immediately.

The Minister of State for Industry, Sen. John Enoh, represented by his Special Adviser, Mr. Odunsanya Adedamola, stated that the initiative aligns with the vision and substance of the Nigerian Industrial Revolution Plan (NIPR). “The NIRP, through the Nigerian Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), deliberately prioritises innovation, skills development, and local content,” he said.

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The winners received cash rewards, with UNIBEN taking home ₦5 million, FUTO receiving ₦3 million, and the University of Abuja getting ₦4 million. Each of the 12 participating schools also received ₦2 million.

The competition showcased 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. As Osanipin noted, “Let us move towards the Nigeria that does not just consume but produces technology and exports technology.

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