Nigeria’s ambition to build a thriving indigenous electric vehicle (EV) industry has gained significant momentum as the Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) and the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, signed a landmark partnership to advance local electric vehicle manufacturing, battery technology research and technical skills development.
The collaboration, described as the first of its kind between a Nigerian indigenous EV manufacturer and a polytechnic, is expected to strengthen the link between industry and academia while enhancing local capacity across the nation’s automotive value chain.
Under the agreement, EMVC and the Federal Polytechnic Offa will jointly design and develop market-ready electric vehicles tailored to Nigerian and African road conditions. The partnership will also focus on battery technology research, including battery cell assembly and battery management systems, while promoting the local sourcing and fabrication of vehicle components.
The initiative is designed to equip students with practical skills in electric vehicle design, assembly, battery systems and after-sales maintenance through structured training programmes. Both institutions will also share laboratories, workshops, technical expertise and research facilities to support innovation and product development.
The partnership further outlines plans to establish a Centre of Excellence in Electric Mobility at the polytechnic, introduce specialised curricula and certification programmes in electric vehicle engineering, battery technology and renewable energy systems, and create internship and apprenticeship opportunities for students.
Other areas of collaboration include faculty exchange programmes, joint research publications, patent development, entrepreneurship support for student innovators, deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on campus, collaborative applications for research grants and public awareness campaigns to promote electric mobility across Kwara State and the North Central region.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, EMVC Chief Executive Officer, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, said the partnership reflects the company’s commitment to developing the skilled workforce required to sustain Nigeria’s emerging electric vehicle industry.
According to him, building a competitive EV sector goes beyond manufacturing vehicles to investing in the people and knowledge that will drive long-term growth.
“This collaboration reflects EMVC’s belief that building a genuine electric vehicle industry in Nigeria requires more than manufacturing capacity; it requires a deliberate investment in people and knowledge. Partnering with Federal Polytechnic Offa allows us to develop vehicles and battery technology suited to our environment while training the next generation of Nigerian engineers and technicians who will sustain this industry long into the future,” Audu said.
The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Dr. Kadiri Kamoru Oluwatoyin, described the agreement as a strategic move to align technical education with the practical demands of Nigeria’s evolving clean energy and mobility sector.
He noted that the collaboration would expose students to hands-on engineering, manufacturing and innovation, while preparing them for careers in one of the fastest-growing segments of the global automotive industry.
Industry experts say the partnership comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to diversify its economy, reduce dependence on fossil fuels and expand domestic manufacturing capacity in line with the global transition to cleaner transportation technologies.
EMVC, a Nigerian-owned company, currently focuses on the design, assembly and manufacturing of electric vehicles suited to African conditions. Its operations span two- and three-wheel electric vehicles, battery assembly and charging infrastructure, with plans to expand into four-wheel vehicle production as part of its vision to position Nigeria and Africa as producers of clean mobility technologies rather than merely consumers.
