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By Moses Akaigwe
The National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC) and the University of Abuja have commenced discussions towards a partnership aimed at advancing electric vehicle (EV) technology, automotive research and innovation in Nigeria.
The proposed collaboration was discussed on September 8, 2026, during a high-level meeting led by the NADDC Director-General, Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, and the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Professor Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi.
A key focus of the proposed partnership is the development of an innovative battery casing for electric vehicles to address heat management and dissipation challenges, particularly under Nigeria’s high-temperature conditions. The project is expected to involve research, modelling, testing and prototyping, with the potential for local production and commercial application.
Speaking at the meeting, the NADDC Director-General emphasised the need to bridge the gap between academic research and industrial application. He noted that Nigerian universities possess significant research capacity that can be harnessed to develop practical solutions to challenges within the automotive sector.
He stressed the importance of stronger collaboration among government, academia and industry in moving innovations from the laboratory to production and commercialisation.
In his remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Hakeem Babatunde Fawehinmi, expressed the university’s readiness to deepen its collaboration with NADDC, particularly in developing practical, industry-relevant solutions.
He highlighted the importance of exposing students and researchers to emerging automotive technologies, practical experimentation and industry-oriented problem-solving, while leveraging the university’s research expertise to support national technological development.
Beyond the battery-casing project, both institutions discussed opportunities for students and researchers to access NADDC facilities, practical training, component testing, reverse engineering and the development of electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
The proposed collaboration is expected to be formalised through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), establishing a framework for sustained research, innovation, capacity development and knowledge transfer.
The partnership would further reinforce NADDC’s commitment, under the leadership of Otunba Oluwemimo Joseph Osanipin, to advancing Nigeria’s automotive technology and strengthening local capacity.
