The establishment of the Department of Automotive Engineering at the University of Nigeria was borne out of a strategic response to global, national, and institutional imperatives in engineering education and the mobility sector.

 For several decades, Automotive Engineering had been treated as a sub-discipline within the Department of Mechanical Engineering, where students were offered elective courses in internal combustion engines, vehicle dynamics, and transport systems. However, the rapid pace of technological advancement, coupled with Nigeria’s socio-economic and industrial needs, revealed significant gaps that necessitated the creation of a distinct academic department.

 At the global level, the automotive industry has been undergoing a paradigm shift towards sustainable mobility, hybrid and electric vehicles, intelligent transport systems, and the integration of artificial intelligence and mechatronics into vehicle design. The Fourth Industrial Revolution (Industry 4.0) has further transformed automotive engineering into a multidisciplinary field that requires specialized training, research, and innovation.

 At the national level, Nigeria is one of Africa’s largest markets for automobiles, with a growing demand for skilled engineers capable of addressing challenges in vehicle design, local manufacturing, assembly, maintenance, and transport policy. The government’s industrialization agenda, particularly through the Automotive Industry Development Plan (NAIDP), emphasizes local content development, renewable energy applications, and the reduction of carbon emissions in transport. Meeting these national priorities required the establishment of a department dedicated exclusively to automotive education and research.

 At the institutional level, the University of Nigeria has consistently positioned itself as a leader in engineering education and innovation. Recognizing the increasing demand for specialized expertise, the Senate approved the creation of a Department of Automotive Engineering in 2023, separating it from Mechanical Engineering. This move was guided by the Core Curriculum and Minimum Academic Standards (CCMAS) of the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the standards of the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), which advocate for discipline-specific programmes that produce industry-ready graduates.

 The establishment of the department therefore reflects:

1.      The need for a curriculum that goes beyond conventional mechanical engineering, focusing on hybrid/electric drives, intelligent mobility, and sustainable transport systems.

2.      The urgency to produce graduates who can design, fabricate, and maintain vehicles suited to Nigeria’s unique road and environmental conditions.

3.      The university’s vision to pioneer specialized automotive research, innovation, and industry collaboration in West Africa.

4.      The demand from students, industries, and policymakers for a programme that blends engineering fundamentals with transport policy, entrepreneurship, and applied AI.

 In essence, the Department of Automotive Engineering was created to bridge the gap between traditional mechanical engineering and the evolving demands of the automotive and transport industry, thereby equipping graduates with the technical and entrepreneurial skills required to drive Nigeria’s automotive future.

 Engr. Prof. Chigbogu G. Ozoegwu was subsequently appointed as the pioneer Head of Department in July 11, 2024, for the 2024/2025 academic session by the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Romanus C. Ezeokonkwo, during the deanship of Engr. Prof. Emenike Ejiogu. Engr. Dr. Patrick U. Akpan was subsequently appointed as the next Head of Department in acting capacity with effect from 1^st August 2025, for the 2025/2026 Academic Session.