Jelani Aliyu: The Nigerian Shaping the Future of Automotive Designs
Jelani Aliyu, a world-renowned car designer, grew up in the Nigerian state of Sokoto. From a young age, he was fascinated by cars and how they are designed. In his words, "[Automotive design] is a tool for survival and economic growth, dealing with the challenges that people face every day and coming up with solutions to them, which are for the most part physical products or systems that empower people and make life easier."
He saw it as a way to improve people's lives, not just by creating beautiful cars, but by designing vehicles that are useful, sustainable, and enhance how people connect with each other and their environment.
After excelling in Technical Drawing at Capital School and Federal Government College, Sokoto, Jelani initially pursued an undergraduate degree in Architecture at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria. However, he later transferred to Birnin-Kebbi Polytechnic because he felt that a more hands-on, practical approach that the polytechnic offers would better align with his aspirations of pursuing a career in Automotive Design.
Following his studies at Birnin-Kebbi Polytechnic, Jelani secured a scholarship from the Sokoto State government to pursue his passion for automotive design at the prestigious College for Creative Studies in Michigan, where he honed his skills and later embarked on a successful career at General Motors upon graduation.
At General Motors, his first international assignment was in Germany, where he contributed to the design of Opel vehicles. Upon his return to General Motors' Tech Center, he worked on the Pontiac G6 before transitioning to the company's Advanced Design Studio.
Working in the Advanced Design Studio saw Jelani play a pivotal role in developing the design concept for the Chevrolet Volt Electric Car which would soon usher in a new era for General Motors and the entire automotive industry.
Despite his success at General Motors, Jelani made the difficult decision to return to Nigeria in 2017 to serve as the Director-General of the Nigerian Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC). Driven by a deep love for his country, he felt a strong sense of duty to contribute his skills and knowledge to the development of Nigeria's automotive industry.
Although his tenure at NADDC has concluded, he continues to contribute to the Nigerian automotive industry through consulting and involvement in various initiatives aimed at driving innovation.