UNILAG, Nord Motors to Set Up Automobile Manufacturing Hub on Campus

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Nigerian automotive manufacturer, Nord Motors have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to set up an automobile manufacturing hub on the university’s campus. The MOU was signed at an event held at the Council Chamber of the institution.

While speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, FAS, said that it was the first time such type of collaboration between the university and an automobile company in Nigeria would be established. According to him, the move is a major and very important step that will see the university introduce modern processes and innovation within the education sector. It will also assist in the practical training of qualified students of the university and those willing to learn the process of automobile assemblage. 

Ogundipe also described the strategy as a Triple Elite Model that has brought together the government, the industry, and the university in one place. According to him, education has gone beyond dishing out theory to the students, adding that there is an absolute need for the practical application of the studies so that the students will be able to do their IT in and outside the university. Prof. Ogundipe commended the Nord team for the initiative and congratulated the university’s council, members of staff, and students as well as all the stakeholders associated with UNILAG for the feat and past achievements

In his response, the Founder of Nord Motors, Mr. Oluwatobi Ajayi, said the initiative could be the beginning of an industrial revolution in Nigeria, where students would not only see how vehicles are made but be a part of the process of production.

He revealed that apart from the establishment of a showroom and a working assembly plant on the UNILAG campus, the collaboration would afford students within the different departments in engineering a rare privilege to be a partaker of the assembling of a car. “Every aspect of Engineering would be involved from mechanical requirements to Systems and Metallurgical as well as Electrical because they are vital components of an automobile”. 

He stressed that Nigerians need to show the world that “we are not just consumers of good things but creators of good things.”

Mr. Ajayi, who after many years of experience in the automobile industry with major manufacturers like Mercedes Benz posited that he felt compelled to give the best to the country and also create leeway for young Nigerians to get practical experience in automaking and its business.