The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) has officially launched the highly anticipated 8-Seater Electric Campus Shuttle Bus Competition at the University of Lagos on the 6th March 2025.

The competition aims to encourage innovation, promote local content addition, foster entrepreneurial skills, stimulate research collaboration, and advance sustainability within Nigeria’s automotive sector. A total of 12 Universities are participating in this prestigious competition, with two schools representing each geopolitical zone of the Country.

The institutions vying for the top prize include Mautech (Yola) and ATBU (Bauchi) representing the North-East zone; ABU (Zaria) and UDUS (Sokoto) from the North-West; UniAbuja (Abuja) and Unilorin (Ilorin) from the North-Central; UNN (Nsukka) and FUTO (Owerri) from the South-East; Uniport (Port-Harcourt) and Uniben (Benin) from the South-South; and Unilag (Lagos) and OAU (Ile-Ife) from the South-West.

In his address at the Opening Ceremony, NADDC Director General, Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, emphasized the Council’s ongoing commitment to empowering young innovators. He stated that the competition offers students an unparalleled opportunity to showcase their talents and contribute to the nation’s technological advancement. He also highlighted that the students participating in this challenge are not just competing for a prize but for a chance to create a sustainable future for Nigeria.”This is a testament to the boundless potential of our university students to revolutionize industries and shape a smarter, greener future,” Osanipin said.The competition is structured in two phases.

The first three months will focus on the design phase, with all 12 universities participating. The final three months will feature the vehicle development phase, where only one University will move forward to build the actual shuttle bus prototype. The initiative, managed by the Department of Vehicle Electrification at NADDC.Also speaking at the event, the Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos, represented by Professor Adeosun, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Lagos, reiterated his support for the initiative. He emphasized the importance of adapting to new battery technologies and the potential to integrate alternative battery sources into vehicle designs.

He noted that such adaptability would not only improve the efficiency of electric vehicles but also help local industries embrace cutting-edge innovations. He also expressed strong support for the competition, emphasizing the need for flexibility in adopting various battery technologies to enhance the performance of electric vehicles.The NADDC is hopeful that the competition would inspire innovative breakthroughs, helping to position Nigerian Universities as key players in the global automotive industry, while fostering sustainability and technological advancement in the Country’s transportation sector.