The University of Lagos on Thursday, July 14, 2022, said plans were underway for the evolution of the Department of Automobile Engineering in the institution soon.
The Vice-Chancellor, University of Lagos, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe disclosed this in an interview on the sidelines of the signing of a Memorandum of Agreement between the university and NORD Motors, an indigenous automobile firm.
According to him, the signing of the memorandum is a bold step in the right direction that is positioned to further intensify the university’s quest in equipping students with all the necessary skills before graduation.
“Education today has gone far beyond just theory. We are happy with this development because we are bringing the practical application right here to the university and even outside.
“With what we have therefore witnessed today, may now lead to the evolvement of the Department of Automobile Engineering. This may happen in no distant time, hopefully in 2023.
“It is subsumed now in the Department of Mechanical Engineering. But very soon, we will be having the automobile engineering stand as a department of its own.
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It will also serve like their laboratory.
“Another advantage is that they will be using the department for industrial attachment for our students,” Ogundipe said.
He described the collaboration as the ‘Evolutionary Triple Helix model’, as the university was bringing the industry, government and country together.
Ogundipe said that this would also stimulate research and development activities in the area of automobile among members of staff.
He said that any nation with the quest for development must look inward.
“This is the first time any university is bringing an automobile company into its campus in Africa.
“What this means to us therefore is that they will start assembling the car in this university of Lagos, putting into consideration, the economic situation of this country.
“Our students will be able to gain first hand experience. Not only students of engineering, but architecture, finance, marketing, as well as those in creative arts.
“Some good ones could also be employed here and that will expose them at the international level, in the area of automobile engineering.
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“Asides this, it will also assist our academic staff in the area of research, may be in the area of energy or fuel consumption. It is also a thing of pride for the university, the community and indeed the country at large.
“I also want to appreciate the chairman of Council for granting us the permission to go ahead with what we have witnessed here today,” the professor of Botany stated.
On his part, Mr Oluwatobi Ajayi, Founder/ CEO, of NORD Motors, expressed delight at the development, noting that it was his little way of contributing to the development of the country.
According to him, there is the need to continuously encourage the youths, especially students in tertiary institutions, by making them understand that they have a future in engineering especially.
“I want to assure you that in two months time, our company will be establishing our assembly plant, as well as an ultra modern showroom, to be commissioned by the vice chancellor.
“I have always believed in Nigeria and believe in the great talents and natural resources therein. I will not stop at doing anything within my disposal to make Nigeria a pride before the entire world.
“It is time we must come together to return Nigeria to a producing nation and not a consumer nation.
“And one of the things we need to do in this regard is to start from our school, catching them young and equipping them,” he said.