The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo, commissioned an Electric Vehicle Charging Station, powered by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), at the University of Lagos on Tuesday, July 13, 2021.
The former Governor of Ekiti State and a distinguished alumnus of UNILAG performed the historic assignment at the Faculty of Engineering where the charging station is established.
In his opening address, the Minister commended the vision of President Muhammadu Buhari for promoting Nigeria’s embrace of clean energy mobility as a response to the threat of climate change and global warming. He expressed appreciation for the support the President has given, in particular, to the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), the agency that is under the auspices of his ministry and charged with the development of automotive engineering in Nigeria. He charged students of the university and Nigerian youths in general to take advantage of the charging station as an opportunity to become a part of the new chapter of electric mobility and clean energy in Nigeria.
“Days of environment-polluting vehicles coming to an end” – NADDC Boss
Engineer Jelani Aliyu, MFR, Director-General of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), acknowledged that the world is in the midst of a 4th Industrial Revolution, where novelties like Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain Technology and New Generation Vehicles are becoming the norm.
“The days of environment-polluting vehicles are coming to an end and Nigeria needs to embrace the era of zero emission vehicles”, he said.
Engineer Aliyu highlighted that knowledge transfer to and from the faculty and students of the University of Lagos was the reason the charging station was sited in UNILAG.
“It is about empowering young Nigerians to create an advanced future for the country”, he said and he charged them to maximise the opportunity.
“UNILAG receives the gift with both hands” – VC, Professor Ogundipe
The Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ogundipe, FAS, expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for the choice of the University of Lagos as host of the solar-powered electric charging station.
He stated the readiness of UNILAG to maximise the advantage of the facility and to leverage on it to further perfect the ongoing research on clean energy mobility in the university, which has produced an Electric Vehicle (EV) prototype which can currently cover a distance of 10km.
“UNILAG receives the gift with both hands”, the visibly delighted Vice-Chancellor said.
Dignitaries graced the commissioning
Chairman of the Governing Board of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) Distinguished Senator Osita Izunaso and a Member of the Board, Distinguished Senator Iyiola Omisore, were among dignitaries that were on ground to grace the event.
(Principal Officers of the University and other Dignitaries at the background.)
In his address to the gathering, Chairman of the NADDC disclosed that by October 2021, the agency will host the first Made-in-Nigeria Auto Fair in order to encourage and promote local auto manufacturer.
Mr. Anant Badjatya, CEO of Stallion Group Nigeria; Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Development Services), Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa; Registrar, Oladejo Azeez, Esq.; Bursar, Dr Lekan Lawal and the University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs) Yetunde Zaid were also on hand to join the Minister at the commissioning.
They all joined the Minister at the commissioning of the Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station and the showcase/test-drive of the first 100% Electric Vehicle assembled in Nigeria, the Hyundai Kona.
