Dr. Mukail Akinde, the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun State, announced on Friday that the institution plans to establish a mini assembly plant for producing its newly developed electric automated tricycle.
Akinde urged the Federal Government and corporate organizations, especially those in the manufacturing sector, to support the polytechnic’s efforts toward commercializing this invention.
He emphasized that successful production of the tricycle could significantly reduce importation, alleviate pressure on foreign exchange, and create job opportunities for young people.
Read Also: What Adeleke Was Seen Doing With Diri (VIDEO)
This announcement was made during a visit by the Governing Council of the institution, led by Chairman Alhaji Garba Gashua, and the National Automotive Design and Development Council to the polytechnic’s innovation center, where the new tricycle was inspected.
The Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, is reportedly the first institution to develop and assemble this type of tricycle. Akinde also called on the Federal Government to increase funding for the institution to support further innovations, research, and development.
He 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.”
Read Also: What Happened When Bayero Made First Trip Out Of Kano Since Rivalry With Sanusi (PHOTOS)
In response, Alhaji Garba Gashua, Chairman of the Polytechnic’s Governing Council, expressed his excitement and pride in the polytechnic’s innovative achievement.
He assured that he would actively seek support to ensure the successful realization of the project.
Gashua 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.”
Mr. Ayinde Abdullahi, Director of Vehicle Electrification at the National Automotive Design and Development Council, praised the initiative and noted that the completion of several raw materials companies by the Federal Government would significantly enhance local production in the automobile sector.
Jide Soyemi, Director of the Innovation Centre, explained that the center was established three years ago to provide students with advanced technologies not covered in their curriculum but relevant to the industry.
He highlighted that the center exposes students to fields such as Artificial Intelligence, robotics, drone technology—especially for agricultural use—and portable inverters for micro-businesses.
Soyemi also noted that the latest innovation is the tricycle, with students contributing over 80 percent to the center’s projects.
