The Igbinedion University, Okada, Ovia North-east Local Government Area of Edo State, has said it’s in the process of manufacturing lightweight electric minibus, the first by any university in the country.

The Vice-Chancellor of the university, Prof. Lawrence Ezemonye, disclosed this at the weekend during the 21st convocation ceremony of the university.

Ezemonye said that the design and fabrication that would lead to the production of the vehicles were ongoing.

He said: “Research, development and innovation are critical to scholarship and knowledge production. The university’s efforts in this regard received a boost with the ongoing design and fabrication of light weight electric minibus, which will ultimately lead to the manufacture of lightweight vehicles.

“There will be periodic public lectures at various phases of the project, while the engineering students are expected to come up with research topics at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels relevant to the project,” Ezemonye said.

He further announced that the university was partnering with Harvard University on research and training endeavour on malaria eradication in Africa, adding that two members of staff of the university had been recommended to join in the pursuit.

Delivering the 21st Convocation Lecture of the University, Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator George Akume, said only a collaboration between the public and private sector can stimulate research and development in Nigeria.

Speaking on the lecture titled: “Public and Private Sector Intervention in Tertiary Education in Nigeria: Stimulus for Innovative Research and Development,” Akume noted that such private and public sectors’ synergy would drive sustainable growth and ensure a brighter future for the country.

According to him, since the creation of Igbinedion University in 1999, as the first University in Nigeria, private investment in tertiary education has come to complement the public investment.

“We must agree that the future of Nigeria lies on the quality of education we provide in our tertiary institutions.

“With collaboration between public and private sectors, we can stimulate research and development, thereby driving sustainable growth and ensuring a brighter future for our great nation.

“Let’s be encouraged by the giant stride that the federal government is making to better the lot of Nigerians,” he added.

The SGF claimed that the present administration at the centre was youths focused; hence the graduates at the convocation must leverage on the policies to tackle the challenge of unemployment hence the provision of over N10 billion in the budget for youth focused programmes.

Meanwhile, the vice chancellor further announced that 842 students graduated for the 2022/2023 session, out of which he said 36 made First Class Honours, while 299 graduated with Second Class Honours (Upper Division).

Also, the Chancellor of the university, Chief Gabriel Igbinedion, charged the graduates to be good ambassadors of their alma mater and impact the world by being the best.

Represented by his deputy and son, Chief Lucky Igbinedion, the senior Igbinedion charged the graduating students to build and create powerful networks that would open doors of opportunities for them in different spheres of life.

Highlight of the ceremony was the conferment of honorary doctorate degrees on a former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Yusuf Buratai and a former Chief Judge of Edo, Justice Joe Acha. (THISDAY)

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