On Friday, August 23, Mukail Akinde, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, announced that the institution is planning to establish a small assembly plant to produce its newly developed electric tricycle.
Akinde also urged the Federal Government and corporate organizations, particularly those in the manufacturing sector, to support the polytechnic’s efforts to bring this innovation into commercial production.
The rector stated that successful commercial production of the tricycle would significantly reduce importation, ease pressure on foreign exchange, and create job opportunities for young people.
He made this announcement during a visit from the Governing Council of the institution, led by Alhaji Garba Gashua, and representatives from the National Automotive Design and Development Council, who came to inspect the newly developed electric tricycle at the institution’s innovation center.
The polytechnic was said to be the first institution to produce this type of tricycle, which was built and assembled at its innovation center.
The rector has urged the Federal Government to provide additional funding to support further innovations, research, and development at the institution.
Akinde said, “My expectation now is to see how we can take the tricycle to the industry.
“Let me also tell you that this is just the prototype, the main design will contain three people, the rider and two other people at the back.
“It will also contain a solar powered panel that will be charging the tricycle.
“That has already been designed but we are looking for people to partner with like Innoson or whoever that will help us take the innovation to the industry for commercial production.
“If we cannot produce this tricycle in commercial quantity, it means that we shall be importing it and this will pile more pressure on our exchange rate.
“So we are asking for agencies that will support us and also fund this polytechnic so that we can do better.
“We want to have a mini assembly plant here in the way we can produce like 10 tricycles or more.
”I want to assure you that by next season we are producing three of these tricycles that we shall be using on our campus.”
He explained that the tricycle “will contain three people and it will have a solar powered panel that will be charging it.
”Another unique feature of this tricycle is that it can reverse unlike those we have outside there.”
In response, Chairman of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, expressed his enthusiasm and pride in the institution’s impressive innovation.
He assured that he would actively seek support to ensure the successful realization of this vision.
He said “I have been so impressed with the tricycle produced by the polytechnic. I rode in it from the innovations centre to the administrative complex.
“I am equally happy that almost what the polytechnic used in the production were sourced locally.
“We are however proposing that the next one that they will do should contain three people at the back and then one person at the front just the way our normal tricycle works.
“The representative of the National Automotive Centre who came with us to inspect the tricycle has said he’s quite impressed with the innovation.
“We surely need Federal government assistance for this polytechnic so that they can expand the scope of this machine.
”We don’t have the funds but we shall go beg the Federal government to come to our aid.”
The Director of Vehicle Electrification at the National Automotive Design and Development Council, praised the initiative and said that the establishment of various raw materials companies by the Federal Government would significantly enhance local production in the automobile sector.
The Director of the Innovation Centre, explained that the centre was established three years ago to provide students with advanced technology that is not covered in the standard curriculum but is relevant to the industry.
He said that the Innovation Centre introduces students to fields such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, drone creation and operation (especially for agricultural use), and portable inverters for micro businesses.
He highlighted that the latest invention is the tricycle, with students contributing over eighty percent to its development and other projects at the centre.
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