EMVC, Offa Poly partner to promote local electric vehicle dev’t, skill training

By Ochiaka Ugwu

In a bid to promote local content in electric vehicle production, Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC), a Nigerian indigenous company focused on the design, assembling and manufacturing of electric vehicles suited to African conditions has signed a landmark partnership deal with Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State to advance indigenous electric vehicle development and skills training in Nigeria.

The partnership brings together industry and technical education to accelerate the development of locally engineered electric vehicles and to build a pipeline of Nigerian talent for the country’s emerging clean mobility sector.

The agreement was the first of its kind between an indigenous electric vehicle manufacturer and a Nigerian polytechnic, and is designed as a template for how industry and technical institutions can work together to build local capacity across the automotive value chain.

The core areas of collaboration include: Joint development of new, ready-to-market electric vehicles engineered for Nigerian and African road and market conditions, Collaborative research and development in battery technology, including cell assembly, battery management systems and local sourcing of components, Structured training programmes for Federal Polytechnic Offa students in electric vehicle design, assembly, battery systems and after-sales maintenance, Shared access to technical and educational materials, laboratories, workshops and research resources across both institutions.

Additional areas identified for collaboration beyond the core focus areas as both parties identified further opportunities to deepen the partnership over time, include: Establishment of a joint innovation and research hub or Centre of Excellence in Electric Mobility hosted at the Polytechnic, Co-development of curriculum and certificate programmes in electric vehicle engineering, battery technology and renewable energy systems, Structured internship, apprenticeship and industrial attachment placements for students within EMVC’s assembly and engineering operations, Faculty and technical staff exchange programmes to build teaching capacity in emerging mobility technologies, Joint research publications, patent development and participation in academic and industry conferences, Entrepreneurship and incubation support for student-led innovations in mobility, energy storage and related technologies, Pilot deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on the Polytechnic campus for demonstration and applied research purposes, Local sourcing and fabrication of selected vehicle components through the Polytechnic’s engineering workshops, supporting component localization, Joint applications for research grants, development finance and institutional funding to support mobility and technical education initiatives, Community outreach and public education programmes on electric mobility adoption in Kwara State and the wider North Central region.

According to a statement from EMVC, “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,” said Prince Mustapha Mona Audu CEO at EMVC.

The Rector of Federal Polytechnic Offa, Engr. Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin described the partnership as a significant step in aligning technical education with the practical needs of Nigeria’s growing clean energy and mobility sector, noting that it will give students direct exposure to real-world engineering and manufacturing processes.

Recall that Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) is a Nigerian indigenous company focused on localising the design, assembly and manufacturing of electric vehicles for African conditions. EMVC’s operations span two- and three-wheel electric vehicles, battery assembly, charging infrastructure and, in subsequent phases, four-wheel vehicle assembly, with the broader goal of positioning Nigeria and Africa as producers, rather than only consumers, of clean mobility technology.