The Acting Vice Chancellor of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, North Central Nigeria, Professor Shaykh-Luqman Jimoh, has revealed that the engineering team at the university’s Centre for Sustainable Energy has successfully converted petrol engine cars into electric vehicles (EVs).
Speaking with journalists in the main campus of the institution, Malete, Moro local government area of the state, on the 10th and 11th combined convocation ceremony for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions, the acting vice chancellor of the university said that the achievement came on the heels of the removal of subsidy on petrol and the resultant increase in the price of PMS.
Professor Jimoh, who said that three vehicles, namely; Sedan, Hilux, and 22-seater Coaster bus, had been converted to electricity-powered vehicles, added that investors had started to show interest in the product.
He called on the state government and individuals who have scrap vehicles to bring them for conversion at moderate charges.
The KWASU Vice Chancellor also said that the institution has commissioned a plastic recycling plant of the Centre for Entrepreneurship, adding that with the initiative, “tons of plastic waste that would have polluted our environment are currently being converted to pavement stones.”
He said that a total of 16,316 graduates were produced by the institution in its 10th and 11th combined convocation ceremony for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions.
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The Vice-Chancellor said that a total of 183 graduates bagged First Class, 5,145 were in Second Class Upper division, 8,420 got Second Class Lower division and a total of 1,455 were in Third Class division in both sets.
He also said that a total number of 11,096 graduates were in first degrees and 767 in higher degrees for the 2021/2022 academic session as well as 4,107 in first degrees and 345 in higher degrees for the 2022/2023 academic session.
He disclosed that with this success, the institution has been placed in the lead of rethinking its environmental culture and developing new paradigms for solving problems and ensuring global environmental sustainability.
Professor Jimoh revealed that the management of the university considered it a major achievement, not just for their Green Initiative but for their determination to add value to the economy of the state and its populace.
He added that the initiative ensures higher efficiency in powering automobiles, reduces environmental pollution, and has attracted partnerships with the Kwara State Government and private institutions.
