The engineering team in the Centre for Sustainable Energy of the Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, has converted petrol-engine automobiles to electric vehicles.

The acting vice-chancellor of the university, Jimoh Shaykh-Luqman, disclosed this on Tuesday during a news conference heralding the 10th and 11th combined convocation ceremony for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions.

Mr Shaykh-Luqman said the achievement came on the heels of the removal of subsidy on petrol and the resultant increase in the price of PMS.

“With this success, the institution has been placed in the lead of rethinking the environmental culture and developing new paradigms for solving problems and ensuring global environmental sustainability,” stated Mr Shaykh-Luqman.

He added, “We consider it a major achievement, not just for our ‘Green Initiative’, but for our determination to add value to the economy of the state and the populace.

“This initiative ensures higher efficiency in powering automobiles, helps our environment to be less polluted and has attracted partnerships with the Kwara state government and private institutions.”

The KWASU vice-chancellor explained that three vehicles, namely a sedan, Hilux and 22-seater Coaster bus, were converted to electric vehicles, adding that investors had started showing interest in the product.

He called on the Kwara government and individuals with scrap vehicles to bring them for conversion at moderate charges.

The KWASU vice chancellor also said the institution had inaugurated a plastic recycling plant of the Centre for Entrepreneurship.

“With the initiative, tons of plastic wastes that would have polluted our environment are currently being converted to pavement stones,” said Mr Shaykh-Luqman.

He disclosed that the institution produced 16,315 graduates in its 10th and 11th combined convocation ceremony for the 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 academic sessions.

The KWASU vice-chancellor added that 183 graduates bagged first class, 5,145 were in second class upper division, 8,420 got second class lower division, and 1,455 were in third class in both sets.

He also mentioned that 11,096 graduates were in first degrees and 767 in higher degrees for the 2021/2022 academic session, 4,107 in first degrees and 345 in higher degrees for the 2022/2023 academic session.

Mr Shaykh-Luqman, however, called on the Kwara government to renovate the access road to the university from Shao to Malete and the existing intra-campus road network.

He called for the composition of a land review committee to look into the threat of encroaching communities and individuals.

(NAN)