Engineering Faculty of the University of Nigeria Nsukka successfully unveiled its first five-seater electric car. Christened Lion Ozumba 551, the car, made with 80 per cent locally-sourced materials, could undertake a 30-kilometer distance when fully charged.
Vice Chancellor of the university, Professor Charles Igwe, said the car was part of the drive to accord innovation and technology the highest attention to reposition the institution for greater heights.
Director-general, National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr. Jelani Aliyu, also commended the university for the stride, urging other institutions in the country to give priority to technology and innovation.
He disclosed that the council had on February 6, 2019 invited UNN, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Usman Danfolio University, Sokoto (UDUSOK) and the Metrological Institute to make proposals on how to produce electric cars in the country, adding that he was elated that it had become reality.
He also commended UNN for the recent production of the gasification plant that uses organic waste to generate electricity.
Earlier, coordinator of UNN Medtronic team that produced the car, Ozoemena Ani, affirmed that it was produced with 80 per cent local materials, adding that it would go 30 kilometres when fully charged.