From Ben Dunno, Warri
The management of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE) has indicated preparedness to go into the mass production of an affordable four wheel lightweight engine automobile that would displace the fast growing three wheels commercial transportation popularly known as Keke-Napep from the Nigerian market.
FUPRE Vice Chancellor (VC) Prof Akii Ibhadode, made this disclosure recently at the inauguration of the Shell Professorial Chair in Lightweight Automobile Engine Development held in the school auditorium.
He noted that the institution has the capacity to develop an engine with a great potential of consuming less fuel for commercial purposes.
Ibhadode said the capacity of the institution in producing lightweight automobile that depended less on fuel had been put to test at the Shell Eco Marathon competition in South Africa where the school participated in three editions and came out first the very first attempt and later took second place in subsequent editions.
According to him, “FUPRE today, is the most successful Nigerian university in the annual African Regional Shell Eco-Marathon competition where participating institutions dispaly their designed and built fuel efficient cars. Our outstanding accomplishments in the three editions that we have participated have earned us both national and international recognitions.”
“We acknowledge with thanks, a grant of N7.2 million from SPDC toward the university’s participation in the 2017 Shell Eco Marathon competition in South Africa in October, 2017 and we also recognise the brilliant contribution of some of the students who distinguished themselves in the competition in order to motivate other students to emulate these worthy ambassadors.”
The VC noted that “FUPRE is an intellectual goldmine yet to be explored to its fullest potentials. I therefore extend hand of fellowship or partnership to all corporate and public spirited individuals to come to Macedonia and help in the realization of our vision and dream,”
The Vice Chancellor at a news conference shortly after the inauguration of the lightweigt automobile engine development, announced that the Bill establishing the institution had finally been assented to by President Muhammadu Buhari, thereby making the institution a legal entity recognized and backed by the law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.