The Nation Newspaper

Tag: FUPRE

  • FUPRE denies fake resumption date

    The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) has denied news that it had fixed its resumption for Monday, January 22.

    A statement signed by its Registrar, E.M. Ichendu, noted that the news being shared on the social media, which also detailed the release of a new curriculum, was false.

    It reads: “The attention of the Management of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) has been drawn to some spurious and scam news making rounds lately, especially the one on a WhatsApp Breaking News.

    “The scammers in an attempt to deceive the public, especially the old and new students of the university, reported a purported switch of FUPRE curricula to follow that set by the Department of Petroleum Resources. It further alluded that an imaginary 10-man committee met on January 16, 2018 to set resumption date for Monday, January 22, 2018.

    “For the avoidance of doubt and information of the general public, FUPRE has not adopted any new curricula set by the Department of Petroleum Resources other than the ones approved by the National Universities Commission, neither has the management announced resumption date for both returning and new students. It is equally important to note that academic matters, such as curriculum and resumption, are the exclusive functions of the University Senate and not any imaginary 10-man committee.

    “In addition, the Management of the university wishes to clarify in no uncertain terms that it has no hand in the ongoing staff transition from one union to the other as union matters are left to individual staff decision and so cannot be said to be staged-managed by the Management. The clarification became necessary in the face of barrage of rumours and uncharitable media attacks of recent orchestrated by detractors of the university.

    “We urge the public to be wary of the fake and unfounded information on resumption. Please be properly guided.

    “The management of the university is making frantic efforts to ensure that the students return to campus in no distant time for the new academic session and when that is concluded, the information on resumption shall be made public and placed on the university website for the attention of all.”

  • PTI graduates 1,102 students 48 with distinction

    PTI graduates 1,102 students 48 with distinction

    …Confers Fellowship on Clark, Kokori and Barigha-Amage

     

    1,102 students of the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI), Effurun, Delta state, would on Saturday be awarded National Diploma and Higher National Diploma certificates on Saturday, October 7, 2017.

    The Principal of the institute, Prof Sunny Iyuke, who disclosed this to journalists at a press conference held on the institute’s campus, Effurun, yesterday, in respect of the institution’s 2017 Convocation Ceremony, also explained that 48 of the graduating students ended up with Distinctions, while another 347 students made the Upper Credit.

    Iyuke, who was accompanied by some members of the school’s management board, including the Registrar, Abubakar Tanimu, also said the institute would confer its Fellowship on three distinguished Nigerians, including Chief Edwin Clark, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange and Chief Frank Ovie Kokori.

    Iyuke also informed that a Convocation Lecture, titled ‘Youth Training Empowerment: A panacea for peace in the Niger Delta region’, would be delivered by the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Wabote, as part of the convocation ceremony.

    “This year (2017), the Institute will add 1,102 graduates of National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) in the fields of Engineering and Sciences to the oil and gas sector, while 24 graduates will be awarded the PTI General Welding Certificates. It is my delight to announce that 48 students graduated with Upper Credits in the 2015/2016 academic session.

    “The Institute will confer PTI Fellow (fPTI) on the following eminent Nigerians in honour and recognition of their outstanding achievements in education, economy, politics and notable contribution to the oil and gas sector. They are; Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark, CON; Chief (Sen.) Nimi Barigha-Amange, an alumnus of PTI and former Pro-Chancellor, FUPRE; and Chief Frank Ovie Kokori, former Secretary-General, NUPENG.

    “You will agree with me that the theme of the convocation lecture is very apt. It is intended to stem the tide of youth restiveness in the Niger Delta region. It is my believe that it is only when youths are skillfully developed that the God-given wealth in the Niger Delta can be harnessed, devoid of rancor, acrimony and militancy”, he said.

  • Beware of expert petition writers, gossips monarch tells FUPRE council

    Beware of expert petition writers, gossips monarch tells FUPRE council

    The Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom in Delta State, HRM Emmanuel Sideos, Abe I, has expressed concerns over the activities of rumourmongers and ‘professional’ petition authors in the University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun.

    The monarch advised the Governing Council of FUPRE to be wary of such petitions and other reports, f it is desirous of moving the pioneer institution forward and ensuring development of the areas.

    Abe Sideso I spoke when the Chairman of the Council, Professor Shehu Abdulahi Zuru, paid him a courtesy visit in his palace located in Effurun, headquarters of Uvwie LGA, last weekend.

    He said, “I want to advise the new council to be fair and transparent. Listen to the officers of the university because they are on ground, at the same time, do not be carried away.

    “We want development in the federal university, we want the communities to be developed, we want Uvwie to be developed, and we want the university to excel academically. Of course, the VC and his team have been doing very well, please listen to them,” the Uvwie monarch added.

    “In this part of the country we write a lot of petitions, a lot of rumours that will distract you from doing what you should do. So I will advise the council, please let the development of the university be a priority, not what you want to have as your personal gains. It is for the development of the university and that of Nigeria that you were appointed to come here to serve.

    “Do not listen to petitions, most of them are not founded, I am saying this from experience.

    “We are very happy that you are here with your team. When I see things that are not going on well, I will tell you, but if you don’t listen I will leave you, I will just be quiet, when we get to the bridge we will cross it, but your career is very important.”

    “The most important pain to us today, Mr Chairman of Council, and if you and your team can solve this for me, I will be very happy on signing the Act establishing the university, which is now at the Presidency.

    “I want you to use your connections, all of you here, members of council. Do whatever needs to be done. A lot of things are being held back because of this. I am appealing to you. Like I said, we will work together, Nigeria is for all of us, we will work together. I am assuring that I will cooperate with you.

    “We’ve heard you, we’ll work with you and make peace with you and make the place conducive for you to work and don’t hesitate to call on your father here, this is your home, the door is open for you and for every member of the council. We have to work together to make sure that the place becomes a better place.

    Earlier Prof Zuru promised to take the university to a greater height and ensure that the Act establishing the institution was passed into law.

    Members of the Governing Council included Alhaji Ibrahim Mahmud, Professor Bello Zaki Abubakar, Mr Paul Odili and Professor Abiodun Alan. Others were Prof Christopher Ajuwa, Prof Christopher Onosemuode, Dr Godswill Ogualgha, Rev Fr Oghenejode Abaka and Dr Allenotor David among others.

    Prof Zuru assured that efforts were being made to get legal backbone for the institution by passing the Bill establishing FUPRE into law. He promised that getting the law enacted remained a primary interest of his board.

    Meanwhile, the university council chair has assured staff of the institution that the current council would not leave any stone unturned to address the challenges facing the institution in order to take it to top.

    “To put it mildly, because I’m an optimist, it’s herculean, but the essence of having a problem is to solve it, not to use it for an excuse, so whatever is the problem on the ground in this university, is surmountable.

    “Like I reassured during my address to the Congress, we will do our best by leveraging on the best opportunities that the university has. Where the opportunities are not there, we will create such opportunities for the university because there are just so much that can be accomplished. With the right leadership I can assure you that there’s no problem that we cannot solve,” he enthused.

    To this end, he admonished members of staff of FUPRE to function as a family unit that is focused on achieved the lofty ideas behind the establishment of the institution.

    “The federal government did not make a mistake by the establishment of this university and we are the stakeholders, we have to function as a family unit, that we must do in order to move the university forward.

    “I have already emphasized this time and again that the primordial consideration for the current council is rejigging the template on the basis of which the university has been developing because we have to synergize the platform on the basis of which we have been operating, we have to come home and come clean about our performance so far and where we are taking this university.

    “I want to assure you that with the present vice chancellor, the management and the council, we are all winners. We will succeed,” he assured.

  • President Buhari expresses commitment to varsities’ staff welfare

    President Muhammadu Buhari says his administration is committed to the welfare of staff of universities.

    Buhari gave the commitment at the first Convocation/Founders Day of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), in Effurun, Delta on Tuesday.

    The president, Visitor to FUPRE, was represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana.

    Buhari urged the academic sector to start redirecting its focus on providing practical solutions to critical national development issues.He said FUPRE, Petroleum Technology Development Fund and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board should synergise to solve the energy problem of the country.

    “All the aforementioned government agencies in this core sector should harmonise and synergise to meet the increasing energy needs of our nation.

    “This will justify the government’s huge investments in the development of local contents.

    “The university should be a catalyst for innovations and engine room for the Nigerian technological revolution in the oil and gas sector,” he said.

    The president noted that energy was critical to nation building.

    Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar promised to establish an Oil and Gas Research Centre in the university to meet its research needs.

    The Vice Chancellor of FUPRE, Prof. Akii Ibhadode, recalled that the institution was established on March 14, 2007.

    He said that the university was trying to meet its mandate of providing manpower in the oil and gas sector.

    He expressed delight at the achievements of the institution so far despite some challenges facing it.

    Atiku Abubakar, Catholic Bishop of Abuja, John Cardinal Onaiyekan, Ovie of Uvwie Kingdom, Emmanuel Sideso, Daniel Edozie, and the President-General of the Urhobo Progress Union, Moses Taiga were conferred with honorary degrees at the event.

    The convocation featured 795 graduands from six academic sets of the institution from 2011 to 2016.

  • FUPRE students win petrol contest

    Members of Society of Petroleum Engineering Students at the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun, (FUPRE), Delta State have emerged first in 2016 SPENC African Regional Qualifier Petro Bowl Quiz Competition held at the University of Benin (UNIBEN).

    The FUPRE team will represent Africa at the grand finale of the contest coming up in Dubai, United Arab Emirate (UAE) in September.

    Briefing the Vice-Chancellor (VC), Prof Akii Ibhadode about the feat, the Dean of College of Technology, Dr Christopher Izelu, who led the team, said the students had set unbeaten record in the last three years, winning the contest and representing Africa at the global contest.

    Presenting the trophy to the VC, Head of Department of Petroleum Engineering, Dr Akpoturi Peters, appealed to the management to support the team in providing logistics for the trip. He said the team would be led to Dubai by two lecturers of the department for guidance.

    Responding, Prof Ibhadode hailed the students for the honour done to the school, saying the Department of Petroleum Engineering had consistently put the university on global map by its excellent achievement in global contest.

    He enjoined the students to maintain the tempo, while assuring them of the management’s support to win the global contest. The VC also promised scholarship reward to the students, stressing that the reward was necessary to help them sustain the excellent performance.

    It would be recalled that students under the auspices of Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in the school represented Africa in Texas, United States last September.

    Members of the FUPRE team include Stephen Ibrahim, Abdulrasaq Bilau, Taiwo Mishojeun, David Akinmulewo, and Samuel Olawale.

  • ‘FUPRE is achieving its objective’

    ‘FUPRE is achieving its objective’

    •Petroleum varsity matriculates 716

    The Vice-Chancellor (VC) of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) in Delta State, Prof Akii Ibhdadode, has enjoined the 716 fresh students matriculated by the institution to be good ambassadors and show trait of excellence for which the school is reputed.

    The VC urged the students to prepare for the challenges ahead, saying the management would ensure they achieve their academic goals by imparting requisite knowledge and expertise in solving problems in the nation’s oil and gas industry.

    While highlighting the notable feats achieved by students, Prof Ibhadode said: “FUPRE is accomplishing its mission with various ground-breaking achievements in the last 10 months of my administration. By providing enabling environment, our students developed Delta Cruz prototype race car, which won the overall best awards at the 2015 Shell Eco-Marathon race competition in South Africa

    “Our Research on Ground Robotic Oil Spill Surveillance (GROSS) won the OTL Africa Downstream Innovation Award and the school research team has advanced on the construction of mini-refinery as a response to the challenges of fuel supply chain in the country.”

    The VC said his administration remained committed to making the university relevant within the area of its core mandate and creating opportunities for students. He added: “The management has committed itself in diverse partnerships and collaborations to gain strength and capacity to surmount the obstacles against oil sector development and to champion a new wave of petroleum research.”

    He noted that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), Nigeria has given a professorial chair in Light-Weight Automobile Engine Development, while the University of Nottingham has reserved doctoral programmes for FUPRE students.

    The VC advised the fresh students to be committed to pursuit of knowledge and expertise that would shape their destinies and that of the country. He said: “You must demonstrate at the end of your stay in this University that you have been refined in character and learning to positively affect our society.

    The management hailed education agencies, TETFUND and NEEDS, for their intervention in the university projects, which, the VC said, has led to improvement of entrepreneurship centre, hostels and classrooms’ condition.

    The event also featured the launch of FUPRE’s Anthem, which reflects the institution’s mission and vision as world-class school for oil and gas.

     

  • FUPRE students to construct racing car

    The Vice-Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, Prof Akii Ibhadode, has urged lecturers and students to engage in ground-breaking researches and inventions that would promote the institution globally.

    The VC spoke at the inauguration of Eco-Marathon Team sponsored by Shell Petroleum Development Corporation (SPDC). He described the sponsorship as an opportunity to give expression to the specialised skills being acquired by students.

    SPDC  is  partnering with the school to design racing cars that could be exhibited at global platform. Other higher institutions being sponsored by the multinational company include University of Benin (UNIBEN), University of Lagos (UNILAG) and Ahmadu Bello University (ABU) in Zaria, Kaduna State.

    The project, according to Prof Ibhadode, would be achieved by a collaborative effort of the team, which is made up of technically-oriented students and staff drawn from Mechanical Engineering and Electrical and Electronic Departments. Also, some Corps members serving in the school, who were part of previous project at the UNIBEN, would contribute technical support to the work.

    The project was applauded by lecturers and other staff members. The Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund) Desk Officer in the school, Prof Mary Edema, hailed the initiative, noting that the university could tap into the agency research grant to replicate the project.

    As a specialised school for oil and gas exploration, Prof Edema suggested that the team could also build the first modular refinery that could be adopted by the government.

    Responding on behalf of the team, Ewhrudjakpo Efemena, a student, said it was a rare privilege to be selected for the project that would project the image of the school to the world. He assured that the team would do its best to ensure the vision is realised.

    The technical team leaders, Osas Omijie and Adekola Adeyemi, praised the VC for creating the platform for research and project that can promote the country.

    This team is charged with two tasks,  to produce a prototype vehicle/go-cart for 2015 edition of South Africa Shell ECO-Marathon coming up in October and to produce Shell ECO-Marathon or Formula vehicle for national and international competitions.

    The team comprises Precious Otuazohor, Oghenero Otaigho, Oghenekaro Okolosio, Essien Aniekan, Lawson Udonsek, Onome Aboribo and Ewhrudjakpo.

    Also, Mr ThankGod Boye of the Mechanical Engineering Department is the Project Supervisor, while Mr Charles Igbinoba of the Electrical and Electronics Engineering Department is the Assistant Project Supervisor.

    At the inauguration were the Deputy VC, Prof Olatunde Damisa; Bursar, Mr Sam Inengite; Librarian, Prof Esharenana Adomi and Dean, College of Science, Prof C. Osunbor, among others.

  • FUPRE owes us an explanation

    SIR: I still can’t find enough words to describe the injustice meted out to some candidates of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, (FUPRE), Delta State, in the recently concluded post UTME exercise.

    After stumbling upon the school on the internet, I did some internet search on this institution and discovered they prided themselves on being the first petroleum resource institution in Africa, and sixth in the world. I then concluded they were indeed prestigious, especially

    after my sister recommended them.

    On August 6, the day of the exam, my take-away was that the months of ferocious reading amounted to an overkill, as the exam was relatively easier than anything presented in the past questions. So, I did it happily under the stipulated one hour, happy to have finally put the excessive stress and strain on me to rest.

    Two weeks later, we were notified on the school’s portal, about the availability of the results, but we had to pay N3,000 to check the result.

    What I saw shocked me:  “Post utme score: 8 0ut of 50” kept staring back at me from the computer screen. Still dazed, I headed online to see what others scored, only to see

    several complaints of similar scores, some 0 (zero), 5, 8 ,11 and several other funny scores over a maximum score of 50.

    I still don’t get how I could get 16% out of a very easy exam compared to JAMB. I sent mails to the school, seeking an inquest into the  situation or even to have my papers remarked only to get NO reply.

    I feel we were taken for a ride and only monetarily exploited, since the school authorities have refused to address the troop of disgruntled candidates who have stormed the school to seek answers. If the school is sure it’s in the clear on this saga, why has it refused to yield to demands by the candidates for remarking the papers as any credible institution would?

    It’s a shame that JAMB has to leave its students at the mercy of exploitative institutions.  Why would students who passed JAMB, scoring at least 50% score 10% and even less in an inferior exam?

    • Olatunji Akinkunmi,

    olatunjiakinkunmi@gmail.com

     

     

  • FUPRE principal officers’ ‘appointment in order’

    Management of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, has urged the public to disregard what it described as “sponsored publication” against the institution by Coalition of Urhobo Youth Organisation (CUYO) in the media.

    The management said the youth organisation lacked university administration knowledge, saying the group’s malicious publication would not derail the institution’s progress. The school was reacting to a media report credited to CUYO, which called for dissolution of the university’s Governing Council over the appointment of principal officers.

    The management said it would not join issue with the group, but said its response to “unfounded reasons” for the dissolution of the Governing Council was for the purposes of setting the records straight.

    A statement by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof Olatunde Damisa, on Tuesday, said the group lacked knowledge of the procedure for the selection and appointment of principal officers.

    The statement reads: “Between May and September 2013, the university advertised the positions of the Vice-Chancellor, Registrar, Bursar and Librarian, which are part of the mandate of the university as the first petroleum institution in Africa and fifth in the world.

    “After due screening and assessment of the applications received for all the positions, Prof John Ovwata Etu-Efeotor was appointed the Vice-Chancellor of the university. The candidates for the other positions did not meet the required criteria in line with the mandate of the university.

    “The statement by CUYO that the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, Senator Nimi Barigha-Amange, is grooming someone to take over the positions is a distraction by disgruntled applicants, who perhaps failed to pass through the stringent requirements of the university at the interviews. It is obvious that the statement is a figment of the imagination of the group.”

    The management urged the public to disregard the publication and to support the progress and development of the institution.

  • Promoting research, learning

    Promoting research, learning

    Corporate bodies have been urged to partner the Federal Government to fund education to promote excellence and global recognition.

    Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources in Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, Prof John Etu-Efeotor, made the plea when the institution received a Petrel workstation, generator, field mapping equipment and an 18-seater bus from Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL).

    Prof Etu-Efeotor said education was central to national development, adding that it may be impossible to attain excellence in tertiary education if funding was left to the government alone.

    “Government must perform its task of funding the university, but corporate organisations and well meaning individuals should also assist in this respect to improve quality and standards of our higher institutions,” he said.

    The VC praised EEPNL for responding to the request of the management, urging the oil firm to build a structure that would be dedicated to funding practical projects of the university. He added that the equipment and the N5.4 million provided by the firm annually, in its University Partnering Programme for the field work, would be judiciously applied to aid research and learning in the Department of Earth Science.

    The EEPNL Deepwater Production Geosciences Manager, Mr. Goodluck Adagbasa, noted that the objective of donating the equipment to FUPRE was to enhance and complement lecturers’ skills in using latest technology in training students.

    He said the equipment, which cost N300 million, were similar to those being used in exploration and exploitation of oil and gas in petroleum industry, urging the university to utilise them adequately.

    The Project Consultant, Dr Daniel Lambert-Aikhionbare, urged the institution management to judiciously use the equipment.

    In a brief speech, the Head of Earth Science Department, Dr Difference Ogagarue, thaked the oil firm for coming to the rescue of the department, assuring that the workstation and other equipment would be used for the development of the oil and gas industry.

    The event was attended by dignitaries including the former Military Administrator of Kano and Niger states, Gen. Dominic Oneya (rtd); Gen. O. E. Obada (rtd); Chief Macdonald Ugbewanku; the Acting Registrar of the institution, Mrs Rosalyn Egborge; Dean, College of Science, Prof Olusegun Abiola; Coordinator of Public-Private-Partnership, Prof John Arubayi; Director of Academic Planning, Prof Jerome Adepoju and Acting Dean of Students’ Affairs, Dr Joachim Ukutsemuya.