By Samuel Ogude
All roads lead to the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, FUPRE, in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta State on Friday, 14th and Saturday, 15th March 2025, as the institution holds its 4th convocation ceremony.
The ceremony, which will see the graduation of the 2022/2023 and 2023/2024 academic sets, is packed with lots of activities.
Briefing Journalists in his office on Monday, the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, said the 4th Convocation of the University is significant because it is the institution’s first set of Doctor of Philosophy students that would be graduating.
Prof. Rim-Rukeh said as part of the activities lined up for the convocation, is the showcasing of the Research and Innovation Fair with the theme: “Innovation for Economic Growth”, which will be held on Wednesday 12th March, adding that, the 18 years of the institution’s existence, has witnessed accomplishments which showed that the institution is not only focused but committed to achieving its set goals.
According to the VC, the institution will be having a career fair which would be held on Thursday, 13th March 2025 with the theme: “An Epoch Career Fair 2025 – Empowering FUPRE Alumni for Global Career Success, a programme which stemmed from Centre for Career Service, aimed at supporting students at every step of the career development process for them to acquire the necessary skills and competencies to become highly employable and competitive in the global market.
Prof. Rim-Rukeh said the university has experienced speedy growth and development in his administration. According to him, among other things, there was the introduction of new academic programmes by securing the approval of the National Universities Commission(NUC) to introduce Petrochemical Engineering, Information Technology, Software Engineering, Cyber Security, Marine Finance and Economics, among others. According to Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, the institution in his administration was able to establish three new colleges, which are: the College of Maritime and Offshore Studies, the College of Computing and the College of Petroleum Management and Administration.
He said in the last two years, the institution was able to establish centres/institute of Energy business school, centre for water research among others.
Akpofure Rim-Rukeh said, the institution was able to partner and collaborate with different organizations to strengthen and promote academic research hence the University signed a Memorandum of Understanding(MoU) and launched on July 25, 2024 the Academia Industry Board that comprises professionals and key players in the oil industry and research institutions to guide curriculum and workforce development among others.
The Vice-Chancellor said although his administration is coming to an end, as he would be leaving before the end of the year, he is happy that he has made significant impacts on the school by way of infrastructure and others in the school. According to him, he has been able to promote purposeful leadership, the promotion of good library resources, and the accreditation of academic programmes, among others.
He called on whoever stepped in his shoes as the Vice Chancellor to be purposefully and driven to do more for the University.
The VC Chancellor expressed gratitude to management and staff for their support which made it possible for the growth of the school.
He also thanked the President of the Federal Republic of Nigerià, Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his visionary initiative in launching the Education Loan Fund that provides invaluable opportunities for students seeking higher education, the Delta State Governor, Rt. Hon. Sheriff Oborevwori for the construction of the access road to the University, the Pro-Chancellor and members of the Governing Council for their guidance and leadership, which has led the institution to have this success story.
He also thanked Senator Ede Dafinone, Alhaji Abdul Samad Raiu and ASRA Africa, Chevron Nigeria Limited and others too numerous to mention for their roles which have made the university grow to the level it is.
Above all, he expressed gratitude to God Almighty who made it possible to have a successful tenure.
