The Mechanical Engineering Department of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, has become a centre of attraction after five of its graduating students fabricated an automobile, using locally-sourced materials and gadgets. FRANKLIN ONWUBIKO (400-Level Mass Communication) reports.
Can Nigerian engineers manufacture an automobile, using local resources? It is possible! Five engineering students of the Nnamdi Azikiwe University (UNIZIK) in Awka, Anambra State, have shown how the feat can be achieved.
The Department of Mechanical Engineering of the university was the centre of attraction last week when the students unveiled an automobile they designed and built. They drove it round the campus.
The manufacturers, Augustus Okoyenta, Chukwuebuka Okeke, Chikeluba Ezeani, Kenechukwu Ofoegbu and Ebenezer Igbokwe are graduating students of the department. They fabricated the vehicle as their final year project, using locally- sourced materials.
They named their vehicle “Auto-Zik Formula 1 Car”. The design of the racing car, which operates at the speed of 180km/h, was carried out under the supervision of a lecturer in the department, Dr Solomon Nwiegbe.
There was excitement on the campus when the vehicle was test-driven by Chikeluba around the Administrative Block before it was presented to the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Joseph Ahaneku.
The VC was joined by senior management members to shower encomiums on the students and their supervisor, describing the project as a brilliant feat. Members of the management were astonished when the students explained how they came up with the automobile. They analysed the mechanics, principles and calculations that made the project a reality.
Prof Ahaneku hailed the students, saying they had started home-made automobile transformation in the country. He praised Prof Sam Omenyi, the pioneer lecturer in the department, for shooting the school into technological spotlight. Science and technology, the VC said, are the engines that power economic transformation.
He said: “This university has always been known for excellence and these students have demonstrated the excellence. This is a novel project; you don’t need any further evaluation to know that these students belong to the class of excellence. They will be going Abuja in December to exhibit the project and other works. We train students to leave as job creators and not employment seekers.”
Dr Nwigbo described the students as wonderful and resourceful, saying it took the team two years to design the automobile.
He said: “The spirit of engineering in them was brought to bear. The boys passed through stress and training; now they have achieved their goal. Showcasing undergraduate research project before the management is no mean feat. I am not happy because they made a car but the quality of students we are churning out. They are disciplined, ready to learn and obedient.”
The leader of the team, Augustus, said the task was to design a racing car with less air drag when in motion, using cost-effective materials. This took them almost two years.
He said: “The achievement was not easy to come by; it took us days, weeks and months of hard work, sleepless nights, brainstorming and determination to succeed in the assignment. We used division of labour model, with each of us specialising in certain aspect of the design. I designed the chassis, the suspension as well as the hub. Chikeluba designed the brake system. The transmission and steering systems were designed by Chukwuebuka. While Ebenezer focused on the ergonomics (comfort of the driver), Kenechukwu designed the body.
“We spent about N400,000 on the project. Although the department and Students’ Union supported us, but we bore most of the financial burden.”
The students were grateful to their parents, who they said believed in their vision and supported them financially and morally. They also described their supervisor as a “wonderful man,” who encouraged them to work. They listed the challenges encountered in the process to include unstable electricity that prevented them from testing some of the gadgets in the vehicle, and working overnight, funding and lack of requisite machines.
The Head of Mechanical Engineering Department, Dr Chinonso Achebe, said the feat was an indication that the department was not only proficient in theory but teach its students in practice. According to him, theoretical laws were juxtaposed with practical principles to carry out the project.
“We are grateful to God for giving these students wisdom to achieve this feat. This shows that engineers are good managers of resources. A project of this magnitude was carried out at a very conservative cost,” he said.
The HOD said the department had keyed into the programmes of the Vice Chancellor, who, he said, wrote a proposal to departments to look into research and set funds aside to facilitate it.
On how to overcome challenges faced by students carrying out research, Dr Achebe said: “The department and Institute of Mechanical Engineering partly supported the Auto-Zik project. There was epileptic power supply which affected the pace of work but things improved later on. Plans are underway to improve facilities in our engineering workshop and make it better. The Dean of Faculty of Engineering is working towards achieving that.”
