Nigeria has recorded a major feat in automotive technology innovation with a car called 'Tuke-Tuke', produced by students of the University of Benin, Edo State.
The car has passed international technical evaluation in Rotterdam, Netherlands, a statement said.
The statement by the Media Manager of Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria, Mr Precious Okolobo on Thursday in Abuja, said the car was now qualified to race at the 2014 Eco Marathon in Netherlands with cars from 25 countries, mostly advanced countries.
It said the SPDC Joint Venture (JV) was sponsoring University of Benin and University of Lagos to the event in Dutch city of Rotterdam from May 15 to May 18.
The statement said that the marathon would start on Friday with an opening ceremony and the cars would race for the winning price on Saturday, May 17.
According to the statement, the two Nigerian universities are participating in the 2014 edition of Shell Eco-marathon Europe, the first teams from Sub-Saharan to enter the global event.
It said that the car built by students from the University of Lagos was still undergoing thorough technical evaluation and its results would be announced on Friday.
The company was optimistic that the UNILAG car would also do well, the statement said.
"Shell Eco-marathon challenges student teams from around the world to design, build and test ultra-energy efficient vehicles. The winners are the teams that go the furthest using the least amount of energy.
"The events spark debate about the future of mobility and inspire young engineers to push the boundaries of fuel efficiency.
"All cars are expected to pass a strict technical inspection to check that they are fit for purpose and safe before they are allowed to race," the statement said.
It said that students from the Ahmadu Bello University, University of Lagos and University of Benin attended Shell Eco-marathon Europe as observers of the 2013 edition on SPDC JV sponsorship.
"Since then, the students from Lagos and Benin have successfully built cars that are being sent to Rotterdam this week in line with the main objective of Shell Eco-marathon.
"The objective was to challenge students from around the world to design, build and race fuel-efficient vehicles," it said.
The statement said that the judges would be looking to reward the cars that would drive farthest with the least amount of fuel.
According to the statement, the Chief Executive Officer of Royal Dutch Shell Plc, Mr Ben Van Beurden, commended Nigerian students for the innovation.
"We have been doing this for over 30 years. It started in France and it has gone all around the world. It is fantastic to see the scale that we have now.
"The energy, the enthusiasm and the innovation that has taken place, and the fact that we have a Nigerian team here participating is an incredibly milestone," Beurden said.
Picture or it didn't happen
ReplyDeleteWhere is the picture of the "car"?, NE should be objective in its news reporting. Are we not eligible to see the "car"? Mtseeeeee,,,
ReplyDeleteAbi oh. I was expecting to see the picture of the car and also the manufacturers of the car. We are still expecting it sha.
ReplyDeleteGive us d picture of d car
ReplyDeleteLet us see the vehicles and the manufacturers/key engineers
ReplyDeleteEven if the Nigerian students' entry come first and they graduate with 1st class honours, by the time they leave University, they will have nothing to show for their dreams and aspirations for self and country. Such is the sad state we are in. They are not the first in their calling to achieve 'feats' at international events, carry the country's flag.
ReplyDeleteWhich work are they looking for again? With that they are self employed is not that some people who are wating for govt job they wl sitdown in one play for 10yrs doing nothing wating for govt to give them job for naij today if u dont no ur way ur mate wl leave u behinde
ReplyDeleteThe picture doesn't make sense
ReplyDeleteSo you guys think the car that is shown is a toy or what? If you can't see, why read talkless of making comments?
ReplyDeleteAll you that are saying the car does not make sense what have you produced? Even if it doesn't win today it will win tomorrow,Rome was not built in a day like like our cars or Nigeria.have to start from somewhere.
ReplyDeleteYou have not seen any good in them becos you have not seen any good in yourself .
Appreciate them.If govt doesn't give them jobs at least shell will.