In a move aimed at strengthening Nigeria’s transition to clean transportation and developing local technical capacity, Electric Motor Vehicle Company (EMVC) has signed a landmark partnership with the Federal Polytechnic Offa, Kwara State, to advance indigenous electric vehicle manufacturing and skills development.

The collaboration, described as the first of its kind between a Nigerian-owned electric vehicle manufacturer and a polytechnic, seeks to bridge the gap between industry and technical education by fostering innovation, research and workforce development in the country’s emerging electric mobility sector.

Under the agreement, both institutions will jointly develop electric vehicles tailored to Nigerian and African road conditions while pursuing collaborative research in battery technology, including battery cell assembly, battery management systems and local sourcing of components.

The partnership also provides structured training opportunities for students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa in electric vehicle design, assembly, battery systems and after-sales maintenance, equipping them with practical skills required for the evolving automotive industry.

In addition, both organisations will share access to laboratories, engineering workshops, technical resources and educational materials to strengthen research and innovation.

Beyond the immediate objectives, the partners plan to establish a Centre of Excellence in Electric Mobility at the Polytechnic to serve as a hub for research, innovation and technology development.

The collaboration will also cover curriculum development in electric vehicle engineering, battery technology and renewable energy systems, alongside internship and apprenticeship programmes that will expose students to hands-on industrial experience.

Other areas of cooperation include faculty exchange programmes, joint research publications, patent development, entrepreneurship support for student innovators, deployment of electric vehicle charging infrastructure on campus and local fabrication of selected vehicle components.

The partners also intend to jointly pursue research grants and development funding while promoting public awareness of electric mobility across Kwara State and the North Central region.

Speaking on the partnership, the Chief Executive Officer of EMVC, Prince Mustapha Mona Audu, said developing a sustainable electric vehicle industry in Nigeria requires investment in both technology and human capital.

“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,” he said.

The Rector of the Federal Polytechnic Offa described the agreement as a major step toward aligning technical education with the practical demands of Nigeria’s growing clean energy and mobility sector, noting that it would provide students with direct exposure to real-world engineering and manufacturing processes.

EMVC, an indigenous Nigerian company, focuses on the design, assembly and manufacture 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 assembly as part of efforts to position Nigeria as a producer of clean mobility technology rather than merely a consumer.