UNIBEN Emerges Winner In “Design Phase Of 8-Seater Electric Campus Shuttle Bus Competition”, Wins ₦5 Million

UNIBEN emerges overall winner In “Design Phase of 8-Seater Electric Campus Shuttle Bus Competition”, Wins ₦5 million.

Next stage is “prototyping and full-scale production of the electric campus shuttle buses”, which aims to utilize 60% locally sourced materials.

The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has concluded the Design Phase of the 8-Seater Electric Campus Shuttle Bus Competition, with University of Benin (UNIBEN) emerging as the overall winner, clinching the sum of ₦5 million at an event held on July 25th 2025 at the UNILAG Design Studio, Lagos.

The design phase of the competition brought together 12 leading Nigerian universities, which saw them worked tirelessly on design blueprints, 3D models and simulations aimed at creating sustainable transportation solutions tailored for campus mobility.

Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO) emerged as the first runner-up, receiving ₦4 million, University of Abuja clinched the third and got ₦3 million while teams placing 4th to 12th will each receive a ₦2 million consolation prize.

• See Also : SAGLEV Launches MHERO 917 Into Nigerian Market, Off-road Electric SUV Will Be Assembled Locally

Speaking at the event, the Director-General of NADDC, Mr. Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, stated that :

“This is the first time we are hosting such a competition in Nigeria. If you are part of it, count yourself lucky, I certainly do. I consider it a privilege to be among those engineering this historic initiative.”

“The competition is not just about designing an electric vehicle. It is much more. It brings people together to brainstorm, cultivate discipline, encourage creativity, drive innovation, and inspire purposeful planning.” he added.

Also speaking at the event, Mr. Sunday Adedamola, Special Assistant to the Honourable Minister of State for Industry, representing Senator John Owan Enoh, said:

“We gather here not merely to celebrate a competition, but to honour the creativity, determination, and visionary spirit that will shape Nigeria’s industrial future for generations to come.”

“This Electric Vehicle Bus Competition is a practical demonstration of how we can scale indigenous excellence across vehicle design, talent development, and local manufacturing.” he explained.

During the program, key partners, including Dangote Sinotruk and Lanre Shittu Motors (LSM), played pivotal roles by providing mentorship, technical support, and industry insights throughout the design phase.

Following the conclusion of the design phase, the next stage of the competition is “prototyping and full-scale production of the electric campus shuttle buses”, which aims to utilize at least 60 per cent locally sourced materials.

• See Also : NASENI CEO Meets With Chairman Of Chery In China To Explore Partnerships On EVs, Local Assembly