FUPRE Unveils Bold Transformation Agenda as Prof. Agbalagba’s First Year Delivers Major Gains in Innovation, Infrastructure, Energy and Academic Excellence
The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), has recorded sweeping institutional transformation across academics, research, infrastructure, digital technology, renewable energy, and industry engagement within one year of the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ezekiel O. Agbalagba, FCAI.
The Vice-Chancellor unveiled the administration’s one-year scorecard during a special media briefing held on Monday, May 4, 2026, at the Vice-Chancellor’s Conference Room under the theme: “Building a Strong Foundation for Global Excellence in Energy Education.”
Addressing members of the media, principal officers, deans, directors, staff, and stakeholders, Prof. Agbalagba described the occasion as a strategic moment of accountability and reflection aimed at presenting the progress made since the administration assumed office on May 4, 2025.
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He stated that the administration was driven by a clear vision to reposition FUPRE as a globally competitive, innovation-driven institution anchored on five strategic pillars: academic excellence, impactful research and innovation, strong industry relevance, sustainable institutional development, and staff and student welfare.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the University has recorded measurable progress across all critical sectors within the past year, laying what he described as “a strong and sustainable foundation for global relevance in energy education.”
Academic Stability, Digital Reforms and 100% Accreditation Success
One of the major achievements highlighted during the briefing was the restoration and sustenance of academic stability through strict adherence to the approved academic calendar, resulting in uninterrupted lectures, examinations, and timely completion of academic activities across faculties.
Prof. Agbalagba disclosed that the University successfully institutionalized Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for general courses, culminating in the successful conduct of FUPRE’s first-ever institution-wide CBT examinations during the 2025/2026 First Semester examinations.
He explained that the reform significantly improved transparency, reduced examination malpractice, eliminated missing scripts, and accelerated result processing through the upgraded student academic portal.
In what he described as a major institutional milestone, the Vice-Chancellor announced that FUPRE attained 100 percent full accreditation status for all seven programmes presented during the October/November 2025 accreditation exercise conducted by the National Universities Commission (NUC).
The fully accredited programmes include B.Sc. Maritime Economics and Finance, B.Sc. Maritime Transport and Logistics, B.Eng. Computer Engineering, B.Eng. Civil Engineering, B.Eng. Marine Engineering, B.Eng. Natural Gas Engineering, and B.Eng. Petrochemical Engineering.
Beyond accreditation, the administration embarked on a broad digital transformation programme aimed at modernizing academic and administrative operations.
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University upgraded its academic portal to support real-time registration, payments, academic tracking, and result access for over 25,000 student interactions annually.
He further revealed that fibre-optic infrastructure was expanded across major sections of the campus to improve internet connectivity and digital access, while approval was granted for the relocation of the University radio mast to the ICT Centre to strengthen internet broadcasting and access to the TETFund-backed NgREN cloud infrastructure.
As part of efforts to position the University within global smart-campus standards, two modern e-learning and content creation studios equipped with advanced audio-visual systems were established through TETFund intervention.
The administration also advanced the development of Smart Classrooms, including the Lulu Briggs Smart Classroom project, while modular solar systems were deployed across ICT laboratories, administrative complexes, Smart Classrooms, and digital studios to ensure uninterrupted operations.
FUPRE Expands Global Reach Through E-Learning
Prof. Agbalagba also announced significant progress in the University’s Distance and E-Learning initiative, disclosing that the platform recorded over 85 percent readiness during mock accreditation exercises ahead of NUC resource verification.
According to him, the initiative is designed to expand access to over 10,000 learners annually, including professionals within the oil and gas industry, executive programme participants, and international students.
He stated that the platform would support programmes such as Computer Science, MBA, executive education, professional certifications, and specialized industry training, while also significantly boosting internally generated revenue and expanding the University’s global reach.
Research, Innovation and Intellectual Property Expansion
The Vice-Chancellor highlighted remarkable growth in research output and innovation development within the period under review, revealing that the University recorded 21 patents and invention disclosures across robotics, renewable energy, automation, nanotechnology, smart systems, and agricultural mechanization.
Among the innovations developed by researchers and students of the University are the Fire Fighting Drone System, Security Drone with real-time tracking, Smart Autonomous Wheelchair, Autonomous UAV Parcel Delivery System, Intelligent Industrial Pick-and-Place Robot, Autonomous Lawn Mower, Smart LPG Cylinder Monitoring System, Human Kinetic Energy Harvester, Rice Husk Biomass Briquette Machine, and Paper Waste-to-Ceiling Board Technology.
He noted that the innovations reflected a deliberate institutional shift toward solution-driven and industry-relevant research capable of addressing national development challenges.
According to him, FUPRE recorded more than a 40 percent increase in research output compared to the previous year.
In addition, the Department of Science Laboratory Technology successfully developed 15 nano-based products currently receiving institutional support for scaling and commercialization.
Global Recognition and National Awards
The University also recorded major recognition in global research visibility and academic excellence.
Prof. Agbalagba announced that three distinguished FUPRE scholars — Engr. Prof. Olusegun David Samuel, Prof. Modestus O. Okwu, and Prof. Elias E. Elemike — were ranked among the world’s top two percent scientists in the Stanford–Elsevier global citation ranking.
He added that Engr. Prof. Olusegun David Samuel was also listed among Nigeria’s top 500 authors.
FUPRE further received the 2025 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Golden Jubilee Award in recognition of its contributions to petroleum education, manpower development, and research within the energy sector.
At the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers National Student Convention 2025 held in Enugu, FUPRE students emerged overall winners of the national Hackathon Design Challenge, winning the ₦1.2 million grand prize with their project titled “Smart Hybrid Preservation System with Artificial Intelligence Predictive Model.”
Massive Infrastructure Renewal and Campus Modernization
The Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the administration implemented over 20 capital interventions through TETFund and internally generated funding within the first year in office.
Completed projects include the renovation of the College of Science Complex, rehabilitation of TETFund Lecture Theatres I and II, upgrading of the Twin Lecture Theatre Complex, renovation of the School of Petroleum Management Building, installation of solar systems, renovation of Entrepreneurship Development Offices, procurement of laboratory equipment and smart boards, and procurement of a 30-seater Toyota Coaster Bus.
The administration also completed the renovation of Hostel C, installed hostel furnishing and beds, and executed electrical and solar installations across strategic facilities.
Ongoing projects include staff residential quarters, hostel expansion projects, completion of a 50-bedspace hostel, external works on Hostel D, Central Library infrastructure development, drainage systems, perimeter fencing expansion, sporting facility upgrades, and extensive campus beautification projects.
FUPRE Pushes Aggressive Renewable Energy Transition
In what the Vice-Chancellor described as one of the most ambitious energy sustainability drives in the history of Nigerian universities, FUPRE recently secured approval for a 2-megawatt solar power project valued at approximately ₦3.5 billion through the Federal Ministry of Power.
The University is also advancing plans for a proposed 10-megawatt solar electrification project aimed at achieving stable campus-wide renewable energy supply and reducing dependence on the national grid.
Prof. Agbalagba explained that the University is working closely with the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) and other stakeholders to redesign and strengthen its renewable energy infrastructure for long-term sustainability.
Student Welfare and Industry Relevance
The Vice-Chancellor stated that student welfare remained central to the administration’s priorities, noting that hostel capacity had increased to over 2,000 students through hostel expansion and rehabilitation efforts.
He added that the University Health Centre was upgraded with improved medical services, emergency response systems, enhanced staffing, and solar-powered water infrastructure.
Campus security was also strengthened through CCTV surveillance systems, expanded solar-powered street lighting, and improved security coordination.
On industry engagement, Prof. Agbalagba disclosed that the University secured a major training partnership with Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company for asset management capacity development, alongside ongoing collaborations in gas calibration services, technical support, and research development.
He said the partnerships were designed to strengthen practical exposure for students, support local content development, and position FUPRE graduates for industry competitiveness.
Future Development Priorities
Looking ahead, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University recently secured a ₦700 million TETFund intervention for laboratory and workshop upgrades and ₦247 million support for the Petroleum Visualization Centre project.
Other strategic initiatives outlined by the administration include a ₦1 billion TETFund hostel project, a ₦3 billion Public-Private Partnership hostel scheme, development of Maritime Science and Meteorology programmes, establishment of the FUPRE Water Factory, deployment of CNG-powered and electric transportation systems, and expansion of CCTV surveillance infrastructure across the campus.
While acknowledging the achievements recorded within the first year, Prof. Agbalagba appealed for stronger government support, increased industry collaboration, and full implementation of the FUPRE Establishment Act to further strengthen infrastructure, research commercialization, digital learning, renewable energy deployment, and staff welfare.
He reaffirmed the University’s commitment to building a globally competitive centre of excellence in energy education, innovation, research, and manpower development.
“Together,” the Vice-Chancellor stated, “we are building a stronger, smarter, innovative, and globally competitive FUPRE.”
(DEMOCRACY NEWSLINE NEWSPAPER, MAY 6TH 2026)
