Why we developed electric tricycle — Fed Poly Ilaro rector

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ilaro, Ogun, Dr Mukail Akinde, has explained why the institution invented electric automated tricycle.

The rector said the success of the commercial production of the tricycle would help a lot to cut importation, adding that it would “reduce the pressure on our foreign exchange, and boost job opportunities for our teeming youths”.

Akinde also called on the Federal Government as well as corporate organisations, especially in the manufacturing sector, to help drive the commitment of the polytechnic to see to the commercial production of the invention.

Akinde disclosed this Friday while speaking when the Governing Council of the institution led by its Chairman, Alhaji Garba Gashua, and the National Automotive Design and Development Council visited the innovation centre of the institution to inspect the newly invented electric automated tricycle.

The polytechnic is said to be the first institution to produce this brand of tricycle, built and assembled at the institution’s innovation centre.

The rector appealed to the Federal Government to inject more funds into the institution to birth more innovations, research, and development.

“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 said.

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