A Ph.D student from the Faculty of Engineering, University of Benin, has produced  and showcased a one-tonne utility truck.

The vehicle was developed by Engr. Igbinosa Eghosa of the Department of Production Engineering and supervised by Professor Akaehomen Ibhadode, who also led the team to present the wonder on wheels to the University’s Management.

Speaking during the brief ceremony, the project developer said that the light-weight truck will re-shape and power the growth of the nation’s transport and agriculture industries. He added that with adequate funding, the vehicle could be produced in large quantity as the design was capable of addressing transportation needs even in local communities.

On his part, the project supervisor pointed out that over 80 percent of the materials used for the production of the truck, which runs at a maximum speed of 75km per hour, was sourced locally. He said the motivation behind the project was to encourage and promote the production of low-cost vehicles  with very high local content including materials and labour, in Nigeria.

Elated, the Vice Chancellor, Professor Lilian Salami, praised the team for promoting local production through their cutting-edge innovations. She expressed the University’s readiness to partner with the Faculty in the production of some units of the vehicle for the Institution’s use.

(Report by the Public Relations and Protocol Unit)