UNILAG receives ₦24m Hyundai Kona car donation from NADDC

The Faculty of Engineering received a boost on Friday, December 30, 2022, when it received the second electric vehicle donated to it by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). The 100% Electric Vehicle: an Hyundai Kona is fully assembled in Nigeria.

An excited Vice-Chancellor of the University, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, FAS, expressed delight upon seeing the vehicle and took it for a test drive from the Faculty of Engineering car park to the NADDC Charging station behind the Faculty. At the charging station, she charged the Faculty to step up its game in renewable energy, fossil fuel reduction, and environmental sustainability.

She also encouraged the Faculty to pursue its electric vehicle project, as she anticipates a time, before the end of her tenure, when the University will be awash with electric vehicles, being used as campus shuttles.

The Vice-Chancellor proposed that “the Faculty collaborate with the Department of Creative Arts and young people to create beautiful, unique designs that reflect who we are as a University – a low-cost car that seats eight people and can serve as a campus shuttle”.

Dr. Theophilus Fashanu of the Department of Systems Engineering mentioned some of the challenges currently being faced by the Faculty in its efforts to improve upon its Zero-Emission Vehicle. These challenges include the cost of obtaining lithium batteries. In response, the Vice-Chancellor advised that the Faculty looks into obtaining grants in such areas, as well as collaborate with other relevant stakeholders.

In her comments at the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Development Services, Professor Ayodele Atsenuwa, proposed that the Autonov I be moved from the lab to the Natural History Museum as a museum piece, with its history pasted alongside, for the world to see and appreciate. The Autonov I is a locally made car built entirely by late Prof. Ayodele Awojobi, one of the Faculty of Engineering’s youngest professors in the 1970s.

The Dean of the Faculty, Professor Obanishola Sadiq, thanked NADDC and assured that the vehicle would be put to good use in training and research. He also promised that the Zero-Emission Vehicle project as well as the Auto-Diagnostic and Prognostic Centre would be revived.

Professor Obanishola Sadiq delivering the vote of thanks

It will be recalled that NADDC, had in 2021, donated an electric car to the Faculty of Engineering. The donation was made during the commissioning of its Solar-Powered Electric Vehicle Charging Station by Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo.