Sopuruchi Onwuka

The federal universities, the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) led in the 12 varsity contest on design of electric vehicles suitable for zero emission shuttle services in campuses.

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The competition which was organized by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) was hosted by the University of Lagos (UNILAG) which also participated in the competition.

Key partners, including Dangote Sinotruk and Lanre Shittu Motors, played pivotal roles by providing mentorship, technical support, and industry insights throughout the design phases.

The contest which successfully concluded on 25th July 2025 at the UNILAG Design Studio, Lagos, saw the team from UNIBEN clinching the prize for the overall winner, while the FUTO team came really close as the first runner up, and University of Abuja as the second runner-up.

The Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, announced cash prizes of ₦5 million for the overall winner, ₦4 million for the first runner-up, and ₦3 million for the second runner-up. Teams placing 4th to 12th will each receive a ₦2 million consolation prize.

The contest focused on the Design Phase of the highly anticipated 8-Seater Electric Campus Shuttle Bus planned for universities and colleges in the country.

The event, which brought together 12 leading Nigerian universities, showcased the ingenuity, creativity, and technical expertise of students working toward sustainable transportation solutions tailored for campus mobility.

Over the past three months, university teams worked tirelessly on design blueprints, 3D models and simulations, reaffirming Nigeria’s readiness to shape its clean mobility future through home-grown innovation. It is a national initiative promoting local content, academic excellence, and collaboration between industry and academia.

The Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, stated:”This is the first time we are hosting such a competition in Nigeria. If you are part of it, count yourself lucky, I certainly do. I consider it a privilege to be among those engineering this historic initiative.”

“The competition is not just about designing an electric vehicle. It is much more. It brings people together to brainstorm, cultivate discipline, encourage creativity, drive innovation, and inspire purposeful planning.” he added.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Sunday Adedamola, Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, representing Senator John Owan Enoh, said:

“We gather here not merely to celebrate a competition, but to honour the creativity, determination, and visionary spirit that will shape Nigeria’s industrial future for generations to come.”

“This Electric Vehicle Bus Competition is a practical demonstration of how we can scale indigenous excellence across vehicle design, talent development, and local manufacturing.” he explained.

Also speaking, the Vice-Chancellor of UNILAG, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, represented by Professor Ogunkaya, expressed gratitude to NADDC for selecting the Lagos campus to host both the Opening and Closing ceremonies, highlighting the university’s commitment to advancing local innovation.

As the event drew to a close, NADDC reaffirmed its commitment to advancing the next stage of the competition.