President Muhammadu Buhari ably represented by the Deputy Executive Secretary of the National University Commission, NUC Prof. Chiedu Felix Mafiana who was supported by the Pro-Chancellor of the University, Sen. Nimi Barigha-Amange as he installed the Emir of Zamfara State, HRH. Attahiru Mohammad Ahmad CON as the second chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE

By Francis Sadhere

The Emir of Zamfara, His Royal Magesty, Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed, CON, has become the second Chancellor of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE in Delta State.

The Zamfara monarch was installed as the Chancellor of FUPRE on Monday at University’s main auditorium in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State as part of activities marking the first convocation ceremony of the university.

President Muhammadu Buhari, Visitor to the university, represented by Deputy Executive Secretary, National University Commission, NUC, Prof. Chiedu Mafiana administered the Oath of Office on the Zamfara monarch.

The President extolled Alhaji Ahmed as a “meticulous and  consummate visionary leader” stressing that the FUPRE chancellorship position is strategic and charged the monarch to see his installation as an “Exalted, fatherly figure position with a guiding light to shows the younger generation the path of greatness.”

The chancellor said, “This honour bestowed on me is for the entire people of Zamfara. FUPRE is a university in dire need of assistance. I shall lend the privilege of my office as traditional ruler and my expertise as a diplomat to support the university to greater heights.”

Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum, Kachikwu during his Convocation/Founders Day Lecture has promised to facilitate the process for FUPRE’s quest to own a modular refinery.

He also present at the occasion also projected an end to Nigeria’s fuel importation in the next by 2019.

Kachikwu’s lecture on “The Prospect of Nigeria’s Oil Industry in the Next Decade”, also projected that Nigeria’s current efforts at, “improved local refineries and refined products capacity will reduce importation by 60% by end of 2018 and reposition the country for net export by 2019.”

The 1st Convocation/Foundation/Founders Day Lecture of FUPRE continues today (Tuesday) with award of degrees to graduating students and honorary awards to a number of eminent Nigerians.