FUPRE Needs Industry Synergy to Grow – VC

As part of efforts to make the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun a world-class institution and center of academic excellence, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Akpofure Rim-Rukeh has asked multinational corporations operating in the country and regulatory bodies in the industry to support its vision and partner with the University to create value for the sector.

The Vice-Chancellor made this known while on a courtesy visit to the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board, (NCDMB), Mr. Simbi Wabote at the headquarters of the agency in Yenagoa on Thursday, June 9, 2022.

Prof Rim-Rukeh in company of the management of the University noted that the mandate of the University was to produce high level manpower for the oil and gas, and other allied sectors of the Nigerian economy, and has in the past 15 years made some tremendous progress in research and development which resulted in securing patents for some innovative research works awaiting commercialization.

He reiterated that part of the University’s scorecard for excellence was the recent performance of the students at the SPE Petrol-Bowl contest, where they emerged over all best to represent Nigeria and Africa in Texas, United States for the global contest in October.

The VC appealed to NCDMB to synergise with the University to make the difference in the sector by sponsoring the establishment of a Centre for Corrosion Studies as well as taking in some of the lecturers from the University for short internship within its industry supervision to enable them acquire contemporary skills prevalent in the industry.

Prof. Rim-Rukeh appreciated the Executive Secretary for accepting to deliver the 3rd Convocation Lecture of the University, stressing that the event will afford the Board the opportunity to assess some of the patent works and inspect some of the projects accomplished within his two years of steering the affairs of the institution.

Responding the Executive Secretary of NCDMB, Mr. Simbi Wabote commended the University for its outstanding accomplishments within the period of its existence and assured that the Board was ready to collaborate with the University to attain its laudable mandate in advancing the industry.

The Executive Secretary further acknowledged FUPRE’s efforts in training and research on fossil fuel, but admonished the institution to stretch its strength towards other energy sources of the future to enable it remain ever relevant.

He charged the University to come up with researches that are of commercial value as the Board has over $50 Million USD grant for research and development, noting that the money was lying idle as no University has taken advantage of it. According to him, “most researches are for promotion but we are focused at researches that of commercial value as we are in business”.

Wabote assured FUPRE management of collaboration to bring about quality training of expertise for the industry, saying that the Board would consider the short internship for lecturers, as the agency has also designed graduate internship programme that would commence soon.

He directed his technical team to work with the University to ascertain the viability of the patent works by the University for further action on commercialization and sponsorship by the Board.

On the Vice-Chancellor’s entourage were Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Administration, Prof. Christopher Ajuwa; Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Academic, Prof. Christopher Izelu; Registrar, Mrs. Jane Omoyine; Bursar, Mr. Garba Nabayi; Acting University Librarian, Dr. (Mrs.) Gloria Tinuoye; Dean, College of Engineering & Technology, Prof. Godswill Ofualagba; Head, Petroleum Engineering & member of Linkages Committee, Dr. Wilfred Okologume, and Consultant on Industry Support, Dr. Oladunni Owo.