Grace Ashiru
UNILAG Launches Nigeria’s First Electric Buses and New Official Logo
On Monday, the University of Lagos launched eight electric buses, marking Nigeria’s inaugural deployment of such vehicles.
The buses were introduced at UNILAG’s annual media event, which also featured the unveiling of the university’s updated official logo at the main entrance.
The electric buses, a donation from Ogata Global Resources—a group of university alumni—mark a major advancement in fostering eco-friendly transportation within the campus.
These eco-friendly, zero-emission buses, fueled by solar power and electricity, are designed to cut down on pollution, lower transportation expenses for students, and enhance campus mobility.
Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, the Vice-Chancellor, emphasized the university’s enduring dedication to promoting environmental sustainability.
She stated, “When air quality was assessed here, UNILAG was found to have excellent air, almost like an oasis of clean air in the area. One of the major contributors to pollution is car emissions. We decided early on not to add to air pollution, and you will notice the scarcity of generators across our campus.”
She added, “We chose a central generator system to reduce emissions, despite the higher costs involved.”
Ogunsola stressed that the buses were a key element in a larger initiative aimed at cutting the campus’s carbon footprint.
“While reducing car usage and emissions will be a gradual process, today marks the beginning of our partnership with Ogata,” she noted.
She also mentioned that the buses would help lower transportation costs for students by 50%.
Henry Eke, Co-CEO of Ogata Global Resources, discussed the inspiration behind the donation, highlighting the initiative’s goals.
“We selected UNILAG because it offers a strong foundation for technological advancements. The university already has a charging station in place, and this donation complements that infrastructure. Additionally, we’re excited to launch UNILAG’s work-study initiative, which will involve students in driving some of our workforce efforts. We’re also committed to reducing transportation costs, and we’ve reduced the fare to just N100 for students,” he shared.
The event included a test ride on the electric buses, which traveled from the Senate Building to the main gate, where the Vice-Chancellor revealed the university’s official logo.
Professor Ogunsola emphasized that the unveiling was crucial to curb the use of unofficial logos and to create a unified brand identity for the university.
“We noticed that the logo displayed at the gate was inaccurate, and to rectify this and prevent further misuse, we’ve made sure the correct logo is featured on our website. We’ve also launched advocacy efforts to encourage both internal and external stakeholders to use the official logo. Today, the unveiling of the official UNILAG logo at the main gate is a step toward reinforcing our brand identity to the public and stakeholders,” she explained.
