UNILORIN advances to manufacturing phase of National EV Shuttle Bus Competition
By Tajudeen Babamale
The technical team of the University of Ilorin has advanced to the Manufacturing/Development Phase of the maiden 8-Seater Electric Vehicle (EV) Campus Shuttle Bus Competition organised by the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC).
The development was conveyed in a congratulatory message, titled “Notification of Progress on the EV Campus Shuttle Bus Development Phase and Request for Continued Collaboration,” signed by the Director of Vehicle Electrification, Engr. A.N. Ayinde, on behalf of the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of NADDC, and addressed to the Vice Chancellor of the University of Ilorin,Prof. Wahab Olasupo Egbewole, SAN.
The team, comprising staff and students, will join the University of Benin (UNIBEN), winner of the Design Phase, alongside 11 other participating institutions in the next stage of the competition.
While UNIBEN will serve as the central production hub, the letter says other participating universities, including UNILORIN, will provide strategic technical contributions.
In the letter, NADDC commended the University of Ilorin on its outstanding performance during the Design Phase of the competition, particularly noting the University’s robust and inclusive design considerations and practical engineering solutions tailored to the eBus design requirements.
According to NADDC, structured activities for the Manufacturing/Development Phase, scheduled for between January and May 2026, have commenced and the phase is expected to translate the winning design solution into a fully functional electric shuttle bus.
As part of the technical implementation strategy, it said that NADDC would deploy a targeted Industrial Attachment and Advanced Technical Training Programme for selected students and technical staff who participated in the three-month competition to be held between March and June 2025.
It added that “this exercise is scheduled to be held at any of the selected Auto Assembly plants, including Innoson Vehicle Manufacturing (IVM, Nnewi), Possible/New EV(Abuja), Dangote Sinotruk (Lagos), Jet Motors {Lagos), and will cover advanced vehicle assembly processes with a major focus on mechanical manufacturing and vehicle assembly processes, electrical and electronic systems integration, EV safety and compliance standards, battery and electric powertrain systems and quality assurance and structured production workflows.
The Council, however, requested the University’s approval for the participation of two students and one technical personnel from the initial competition team in the industrial attachment programme. It also requested the University’s 2025/2026 academic calendar and a recommended convenient two-week period between January 5 and March 1, 2026, for the exercise.
NADDC expressed appreciation for UNILORIN’s continued partnership and leadership in advancing indigenous automotive innovation, expressing optimism about achieving the historic milestone in collaboration with the University.
