FEDERAL UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM RESOURCES, EFFURUN (FUPRE) MOVES TO ESTABLISH FOUR NEW ACADEMIC PROGRAMMES

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) has taken another major step towards expanding its academic offerings following the successful completion of a National Universities Commission (NUC) Resource Verification Exercise for four proposed academic programmes.

The verification exercise, conducted by a delegation from the National Universities Commission (NUC), is part of the regulatory process required before the university can commence the proposed programmes.

According to the university, the NUC team arrived at FUPRE on Monday, August 31, 2026, to assess the institution’s readiness to introduce degree programmes in:

• Mechatronics
• Physics Electronics
• Meteorology
• Maritime Science

NUC Assesses University’s Readiness

During the exercise, the NUC teams carried out a comprehensive assessment of the university’s available resources, including:

• Qualified academic and non-academic personnel
• Physical infrastructure
• Laboratories and workshops
• Specialised equipment
• Library and learning resources
• Other facilities required for effective programme delivery

The exercise was aimed at ensuring that the proposed programmes meet the Commission’s minimum academic standards before approval is granted.

Vice-Chancellor Reaffirms Commitment to Quality Education

Welcoming the NUC delegation, the Vice-Chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Ezekiel O. Agbalagba, FNIP, expressed appreciation to the Commission for its continued guidance and support in maintaining quality assurance across Nigerian universities.

He reaffirmed the university’s commitment to upholding the high standards expected of Nigeria’s premier specialised university dedicated to developing middle- and high-level manpower for the petroleum and allied industries.

Professor Agbalagba explained that the proposed programmes were carefully designed to address emerging technological trends, bridge critical skills gaps, and meet the evolving manpower needs of the oil and gas sector as well as other strategic industries.

“As we expand our academic frontiers, we are guided by the need to remain relevant to the changing demands of the industry,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.

NUC Commends FUPRE’s Vision

Speaking on behalf of the NUC delegation, Professor Ita Ewa-Oboho commended the university management for proposing programmes that align with Nigeria’s future workforce and development priorities.

He described the proposed academic programmes as timely and relevant, noting that the verification exercise would be carried out with diligence to ensure that only programmes capable of meeting national standards receive approval.

“We will conduct this exercise meticulously and judiciously because we are looking at the future of Nigeria,” he said.

Recommendations for Improvement

Following the inspection, the four NUC verification teams presented their observations and recommendations to the university management.

While acknowledging the progress made by FUPRE, the teams identified areas requiring further improvement, particularly in:

• Physical facilities
• Specialised teaching and research resources
• Institutional partnerships
• Industry collaborations

These recommendations are expected to strengthen the proposed programmes and ensure they fully comply with NUC requirements before final approval.

FUPRE Assures Compliance

Responding to the observations, Professor Agbalagba thanked the NUC teams for their thorough assessment and constructive feedback.

He assured the Commission that the university management would carefully address all identified gaps and implement the necessary improvements to satisfy the Commission’s requirements.

The Vice-Chancellor also reaffirmed FUPRE’s determination to continue expanding its academic programmes in line with its specialised mandate while responding to emerging developments across the petroleum, maritime, engineering, and allied sectors.

The proposed programmes are expected to further strengthen FUPRE’s position as one of Nigeria’s leading specialised universities, producing highly skilled graduates equipped to meet the demands of the nation’s evolving energy, maritime, and technology industries.