The University of Lagos on Thursday, July 14, 2022, made history when it took a major step towards sustaining its university-industry collaboration for the benefit of the country with the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to set up an automobile manufacturing hub with Nord Motors.
At an event held at the Council Chamber of the institution, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, remarked it was the first time such type of collaboration between the university and an automobile company in Nigeria would be established. A move, which he asserted, is a major and very important step that will see the university introduce modern processes and innovation within the education sector. It will also assist in the practical training of qualified students of the university and those willing to learn the process of automobile assemblage.
He went further to describe the strategy as a Triple Elite Model that has brought together the government, the industry, and the university in one place. According to him, education has gone beyond dishing out theory to the students, adding that there is an absolute need for the practical application of the studies so that the students will be able to do their IT in and outside the university. Prof. Ogundipe commended the Nord team for the initiative and congratulated the university’s council, members of staff, and students as well as all the stakeholders associated with UNILAG for the feat and past achievements
In his response, the Founder of Nord Motors, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi, said the initiative could be the beginning of an industrial revolution in Nigeria, where students would not only see how vehicles are made but be a part of the process of production.
He revealed that apart from the establishment of a showroom and a working assembly plant on the UNILAG campus, the collaboration would afford students within the different departments in engineering a rare priviledge to be a partaker of the assembling of a car. “Every aspect of Engineering would be involved from mechanical requirements to Systems and Metallurgical as well as Electrical because they are vital components of an automobile”.
He stressed that Nigerians need to show the world that “we are not just consumers of good things but creators of good things.”
Mr. Ajayi, who after many years of experience in the automobile industry with major manufacturers like Mercedes Benz posited that he felt compelled to give the best to the country and also create leeway for young Nigerians to get practical experience in automaking and its business.
Earlier, the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Prof. Ayodele Atsenuwa, had earlier given the background of the project. She recalled that the relationship between the institution and Nord Motors was birthed having invited the Founder of Nord Motors, Mr. Ajayi, as one of the judges at an innovative engineering event with potential investors at the university last year, where he expressed interest in the quality of presentations and the students who participated in the pitch. She revealed that partnering with several organizations for sponsorship of programs and training has the capacity to motivate and ignite latent creativity, and entrepreneurial interests as well as develop the relevant business skills in our students, alumni, and staff and in particular the Nigerian society. This was seen at the very beginning when the interest of NORD Autos to partner with the university was made and it became a top priority.
Under the leadership of the Vice Chancellor, Professor Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, the university has continued to ensure the continuous development of the Nigerian economy, with its dedication towards promoting entrepreneurship among its students, staff, alumni, and society which is in line with Objective 4 (Section-2: Student matters) on page 55 of the Medium Term Goals of the 25-Year Strategic Plan: “To promote Self-reliance, Entrepreneurship and Exemplary Leadership skills and Capacity in our students”.
