University Produces Nigeria’s First Electric Car

Lion Ozumba 551 is the name of Nigeria’s first electric car produced by the Engineering Faculty of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka (UNN).

Manufactured with 80 per cent locally-sourced materials, the five-seater electric car could undertake a 30-kilometre distance when fully charged.

Professor Charles Igwe, who is the Vice Chancellor of the university said the car was part of the institution’s drive for innovation and technology, and its uppermost attention to repositioning the institution for greater heights.

Igwe also praised the immediate past VC of UNN, Prof. Benjamin Ozumba, who, he said, laid the foundation for innovation and technology upon which the car dream was accomplished.

“I feel happy that I inherited a strong institution from Ozumba and I promised I will consolidate on his numerous achievements.

“I commend the Engineering Faculty for making the university proud and naming the car after Ozumba, who ignited the fire of innovation and technology in the university.

“I commend the Engineering Faculty for making the university proud and naming the car after Ozumba, who ignited the fire of innovation and technology in the university,” the University don added.

Lauding the novel accomplishment by UNN, the Director-General of National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Jelani Aliyu urged other universities in the country to emulate UNN in giving serious attention to issues concerning innovations and technology in order to move the country to the next level.

Speaking at the unveiling on July 8, 2019, Aliyu said: “NADDC on Feb. 6, invited UNN, University of Lagos, Usman Dan Fodio University and Metrological Institute and urged them to prepare a paper design on how to produce an electric car in the country.

“The council is happy that UNN is the first to prepare a paper design and produced an electric car that has been unveiled and test-run today in the university.

“We urge other universities and higher institutions in the country to emulate innovation and technology spirit of UNN.”

Represented by Mr. David Oyetunji, the Director Finance and Account in the council, the NADDC chief yearned that the growth in the automobile industry in the country would help to create more employment and save the nation’s foreign reserves spent in importing cars into the country.

“NADDC commends UNN, which recently produced the first gasification plant that used organic waste to generate electricity and today the same university is unveiling the first electric-built car in the country,’’ Aliyu added.

Also Read: Jaguar Land Rover to Build A.I.-Equipped Car that Responds to the Driver’s Mood