BREAKING: UNILAG Unveils Africa’s First University Auto Assembly Plant Partnership Nord Automobiles

The University of Lagos (UNILAG) has made history by becoming the first university in Africa to establish an automobile assembly plant, positioning itself as a key player in Nigeria’s drive toward industrial and technological advancement.

The groundbreaking facility, developed in partnership with Nord Automobiles, was officially inaugurated on November 10, 2022, but has only recently drawn widespread attention for its quiet yet impactful progress in automotive innovation.

Located within the university’s Akoka campus, the UNILAG–Nord Auto Assembly Plant is a fully functional automotive center that includes a research and development hub, assembly line, showroom, and after-sales workshop. The facility serves not only as a production site but also as a hands-on training environment for students in engineering and related fields.

Since its launch, the plant has been assembling vehicles and drones, offering students the opportunity to gain practical skills in automotive design, production, and maintenance—bridging the gap between academic knowledge and industrial application.

Unlike projects that rely heavily on publicity, UNILAG has adopted a quiet efficiency model, focusing on tangible outcomes rather than media hype. This approach, experts say, underscores the university’s growing reputation for innovation-driven leadership in education and technology.

Observers have lauded the initiative as a transformational milestone in Nigeria’s higher education sector, noting that it strengthens the country’s quest for industrial self-reliance and youth empowerment through technology.

The success of the UNILAG–Nord partnership marks a new chapter for Nigeria’s automotive industry and reaffirms the potential of academic institutions to drive sustainable industrial development across Africa.