University of Nnamdi Azikiwe Graduating students build 'made in Nigeria' vehicles

University of Nnamdi Azikiwe Graduating students build 'made in Nigeria' vehicles...

Students of the Mechanical Engineering Department of the University of Nnamdi Azikiwe, has recorded a major milestone after two graduating student teams constructed vehicles; a bus and an electric motorcycle.

Last year, a commendable achievement was also recorded when five graduating students produced a Formula One car they called Autozik.

The seven students who made buses include; Ezeigwe Chitoo Callistus, Obinani Victor Chimdike, Ezeanolue Ifeanyi Emmanuel, Okoro Chinaza, Ominigbo Fidelis Igho, Nwobodo Nnamdi Miracle and Ogbu Thaddeus Ikenna.

The student who built the motorcycle are; Onyebuchi Chinonso, Paul Ovoke, Paul Chika, Edison Udora, Paulina Nwafor and Tochukwu Ikeh.

The project was supervised by their Head of the Department, Dr. C.H Achebe.

The groups spent over five months in constructing their vehicles, which was mostly built from locally sourced materials within and around the university.

On why she chose to study a course dominated by male students, Okoro the only female member of the bus team, said: “I have always been in their midst right from my first year in school so it wasn’t really a big deal.”

Chitoo, another member of the bus team, said:
“We made the design using CAD software, and all necessary simulation software for the analysis, putting the environment into critical consideration. The bus has good seating positioning, better fuel conservation with reduced consumption, good passenger view and very good aesthetics. It was built to suit the topography of our environment and the weather condition we have in this part of the world."

Some of the students of the department, in an interview, commended the efforts of Dr. Achebe and his team of lecturers, whom according to them, are doing a great job in the practical training of students. They also commended the Dean of the Faculty, Prof. Ihueze Toochukwu, who has brought huge improvement to the Faculty of Engineering and has helped in rebranding the system.

The team further showered praises on the Vice Chancellor of the university, Prof. Joseph Eberendu Ahaneku, who according to them has changed the face of the university and improved the standard of learning.