FUPRE SEEKS INTERVENTION AGENCIES ASSISTANCE TO PUT IN PLACE NEEDED INFRASTRUCTURES
OGHENETEJIRI NYERHOVWO
Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun has called on educational as well as other interventionist agencies to step in to help put in place the much needed infrastructures that would make the specialized institution to serve its purpose just ongoing projects in the university would help to change narrative of the institution
This call was made by Prof. Shehu Abdullahi Zuru, Pro-Chancellor and Chairman, Governing Council, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effrurun(FUPRE) when he led some member of the University Governing Council to inspect some ongoing projects in the specialised university, he said that the specialized university which is first of its kind in West Africa needs the support of oil companies, Petroleum Technology Development Fund(P.T.D.F.), Tertiary Education Trust Fund(TETFUND), Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), state governments among others to stabilize with state of the infrastructures that would aid teaching, learning and research.
Prof Zuru who is also the Chairman of the governing council attributed the level development in the university to the cogent and diligent efforts of both the management and the Council.
The project inspected were the Solar Power Project under the Rural Electrification Agency and magnificent building financed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
The chairman, however, expressed displeasure over the slow pace of work at the building project, he added, “the university remains work in progress. There are stages of progress and it is as a result of the synergy between the management and the Council. We are satisfied with the level of progress recorded. It is a remarkable stride that will help to change the narrative of FUPRE.”
The Pro-Chancellor added, “we are hopeful that in no distance time, these projects will come on stream and duly handed over to the university. However, FUPRE is concerned about the slow progress of the TETFUND project because they are awarded with timeline. Unless these projects are completed, FUPRE will be denied access to funding and we will not accept that. So we are going to engage the contractors to ensure their action did not stall or frustrate the timeline of the delivery of the projects.”
The Chairman of the Governing Council said that the benefit of the solar power would be enormous to the university and the neighboring communities. adding, “the benefits would transcend the confines of the university to the host communities as part of the university’s Corporate Social Responsibility(CSR).”
Prof. Zuru lauded the unity and cordiality between the in house Labour unions and the management of the university adding that the unions were always taken along in every policy decisions that affects them, he also said that the management would continue to work relentlessly to improve on the existing learning conditions of the university.
He said that FUPRE is existing because of the students noting that their comfort was paramount to the management, he spoke further,
“we are conscious of the fact that the conditions of FUPRE can be better, without the students, we will not be here.”
Prof. Zuru described media as powerful instruments to reach out to critical stakeholders in the management of the university system in Nigeria particularly the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFUND and other agencies in the education sector.
On the inspection team were: the FUPRE acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rim-Rukeh Akpofure, FUPRE Registrar, Mr Morrison Ichendu. Prof. Christopher Ajuwa, Council member; Hajia Haruna, Council member, Rev. Father Oghenejode Abaka, Head Public Relations Unit of FUPRE among others.
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