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Nord And UNILAG Sign MoU To Set Up An Automobile Manufacturing/Assembly Plant On Akoka Campus
Nord and UNILAG sign MoU to set up an Automobile Manufacturing and Assembly Hub in Akoka Campus.
The partnership will allow students of UNILAG to be introduced to the process and business of vehicle production.
It will also allow academia in Nigeria to partner directly with the auto industry in their academic space.
Nord says by September, beautiful showroom and a working assembly plant will be on the UNILAG campus.
Lagos-Based automaker, Nord Automobile Limited, and University of Lagos (UNILAG) on Thursday signed a Memorandum of Agreement to develop and set up an automobile manufacturing and assembly hub in the University of Lagos campus, Akoka.
In addition to allowing students to be introduced to the process and business of vehicle production, this partnership will allow academia in Nigeria to partner directly with the auto industry in their academic space to research and develop modern engineering solutions in automobiles and mobility.
Speaking at the MOA signing ceremony held at the University campus, UNILAG Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, appreciated Oluwatobi Ajayi, the Chairman/CEO of Nord Automobile Limited, for entering into this partnership with UNILAG.
“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,” he said.
He described the collaboration as a Triple Elite Model, by bringing the government, the industry and university together.
“What we are doing today is innovation Triple Elite Model in which we are bringing the industry to the campus. This should be the first time this type of thing will be happening in the university in Africa. This will be a great opportunity for our students in different departments to contribute to the development of automobile in Nigeria.”
Also speaking at the event, CEO of Nord Motors, Mr Oluwatobi Ajayi, said the initiative will not only allow students to see how vehicles are made, but also allow them to be part of the production process.
He stressed that Nigerians need to show the world that “we are not just consumers of good things but creators of good things.”
“By this time in two months, you will be seeing a beautiful showroom and a working assembly plant on the UNILAG campus.”
“Our vehicles are of international standard but 40 per cent lower in prices than what is sold elsewhere,” he said.
Ajayi, who have worked in some of the biggest auto industries in the world before starting the Nord company, said he felt compelled to give the best to the country and allow willing young Nigerians to get the practical experience about auto making and business.
