Ogheneruona Tejiri, Effurun
Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE)in Delta State has
inaugurated FUPRE Academia-Industry Advisory Board with a view to bridging the gap between the institution and the Oil and Gas industry.
Inaugurating the 17 members Board in the Campus, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, Vice Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun((FUPRE), Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State said that the initiative would enable the institution to tap from the vast experiences of the board members.
The .Vice Chancellor disclosed that the gesture would help the first Petroleum University in Africa and sixth in the World to develop manpower that would readily fit in the oil and gas sector, he described members of the board as experts in the oil and gas industry.
Prof. Akpofure further disclosed that one of the core mandates of the specialized University is to produce graduates that will utilise the oil and gas industry.
The Vice Chancellor spoke further, “members of the FURPE Academia-Industry Advisory Board are key players in the oil and gas industry. We are producing products that will utilize the oil and gas industry. We need to be closer to the experts in the industry so they can tell us what to do to produce graduates that are fit for the oil and gas industry.
“During my first convocation as vice chancellor in 2022, I asked what can we do because we are producing graduates who will work in the Oil and Gas industry and related Allied industries. We need to know better so that we can produce graduates who are fit for the purpose. As the students graduate, they can go and work directly with the industry without the industry spending more resources on further training. We stand to gain from their experiences for the development of FUPRE and to the overall benefit of the country.”
The Vice Chancellor noted that the oil and gas multinationals including Shell Petroleum Development Company were winding up operations and living the country with their schools.
Prof. Akpofure, then,said that the challenges now rested on the University to provide the manpower to meet the growing demands in the oil and gas industry, he reminded the Board that the University was established in 2007 and commenced activities in 2008 with the College of Sciences adding that the institution now had four colleges.
The Vice Chancellor however expressed his appreciation to the Board for accepting the offer which he described as a service to humanity and national development.
Speaking on behalf of the Board, Mr Victor Ohwodiasa, Delta Coordinator, Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA)promised that the Board would work collaboratively with the University.
According to Mr. Ohwodiasa, the essence of the initiative is for the Boards members to bring their experiences in the industry to bare.
Mr. Ohwodiasa added, “to see how we can close the gap we have identified and noticed over the years between the industry and the academia. The purpose is for us to see how the industry experts, the operators and regulators will work closely with FUPRE to rejig their curriculum to suit the oil and gas industry.
“The issue is that, we want outcome-base education such that will fit for purpose in the oil and gas industry. We will work collaboratively with the institution to achieve the purpose and it will be beneficial to both the industry and the University.”
Shortly after the inauguration, an inaugural meeting of the Board was held with the Vice Chancellor on the way forward.
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