By Lois Sambo
The Electric Motor Vehicle Company, EMVC, and the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, have signed a landmark partnership aimed at advancing indigenous electric vehicle development and strengthening technical skills for Nigeria’s emerging clean mobility industry.The collaboration, described as the first of its kind between a Nigerian indigenous electric vehicle manufacturer and a federal polytechnic, seeks to bridge the gap between industry and technical education by fostering innovation, research and workforce development across the automotive value chain.
Under the agreement, both institutions will jointly develop market-ready electric vehicles designed for Nigerian and African road conditions, while collaborating on battery technology research, including cell assembly, battery management systems and local sourcing of components.The partnership will also provide structured training for students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa in electric vehicle design, assembly, battery systems and after-sales maintenance, alongside shared access to laboratories, workshops, technical resources and research facilities.
Other areas of collaboration include the establishment of a Centre of Excellence in Electric Mobility at the Polytechnic, curriculum development in electric vehicle engineering and renewable energy, internship and apprenticeship programmes, faculty exchange initiatives, joint research and patent development, and support for student-led innovations.
The partners also plan to deploy electric vehicle charging infrastructure on the Polytechnic campus for demonstration and research purposes, encourage local fabrication of vehicle components, jointly pursue research grants, and promote public awareness of electric mobility across Kwara State and the North-Central region.Speaking on the partnership, EMVC Chief Executive Officer, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, said the initiative reflected the company’s commitment to building a sustainable electric vehicle industry through investment in both manufacturing and human capital.
“This collaboration reflects EMVC’s belief that building a genuine electric vehicle industry in Nigeria requires more than manufacturing capacity; it requires a deliberate investment in people and knowledge. Partnering with Federal Polytechnic Offa allows us to develop vehicles and battery technology suited to our environment while training the next generation of Nigerian engineers and technicians who will sustain this industry long into the future,” he said.According to him, the collaboration will enable the development of vehicles and battery technologies tailored to local conditions while equipping a new generation of Nigerian engineers and technicians with the skills required to drive the industry’s long-term growth.
On his part, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa described the agreement as a significant milestone in aligning technical education with the practical demands of Nigeria’s growing clean energy and mobility sector, adding that it would provide students with valuable exposure to real-world engineering and manufacturing processes.EMVC is a Nigerian indigenous company engaged in the design, assembly and manufacture of electric vehicles for African conditions, with operations spanning electric two- and three-wheelers, battery assembly, charging infrastructure and future four-wheel vehicle production. Its long-term vision is to position Nigeria and Africa as producers of clean mobility technology rather than mere consumers.
