The Nigerian Institute of Mechanical Engineers (NIMechE) has said that three of Nigerian universities had begun a degree programme in Automotive Engineering, after a successful development of curriculum in collaboration with the National Universities Commission (NUC) on the course.
According to the Institute, the universities included, the University of Ibadan, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi and Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.
The Institute made this known during its 2015 Mechanical Engineers Distinguished Lecture, held on 13 May, 2015, at the Shehu Musa Yar’adua Conference Centre, Abuja, with the theme “The Automotive Industry and Nigeria’s Industrialization.”
In his address, the Director-General/Chief Executive Officer of the National Automotive Council (NAC) remarked that the theme of the lecture was apt and relevance, especially as it affected Nigeria’s quest to take the lead in the advancement of technology, among the comity of nations.
In his keynote address, the former Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Olusegun Aganga, disclosed that a total of about 400,000 vehicles (about 100,000 new and 300,000 used), valued at over N1.2 trillion (US$6.2 billion), were imported in 2013.
He explained further that N260 billion was spent to import spare parts and tyres, stressing that the local manufacture of vehicles would not only create wealth, but also generate a large number of SMEs and employment, boost the local engineering capacity and capability, through spillover effects, and develop local raw materials.
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