07/05/2026
FUPRE RECORDS LANDMARK TRANSFORMATION AS VC, PROF. AGBALAGBA UNVEILS ONE-YEAR SCORECARD OF INNOVATION, INFRASTRUCTURE EXPANSION AND ENERGY REVOLUTION
A wave of strategic reforms, infrastructure expansion, academic stability, and innovation-driven development has continued to reshape the Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), within the first year of the administration of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ezekiel O. Agbalagba, FCAI. The University has recorded notable progress across research, digital transformation, renewable energy development, student welfare, and industry engagement as part of efforts to strengthen its global relevance in energy education and technological advancement.
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 principal officers, members of Senate and Management, deans, directors, heads of departments, staff, students, stakeholders, and members of the media, Prof. Agbalagba described the occasion as “a moment of accountability, reflection, and strategic communication,” noting that the engagement provided the University with the opportunity to present a clear report of stewardship, highlight major milestones, and outline a forward-looking institutional vision.
Reflecting on the administration’s journey since assuming office on May 4, 2025, the Vice-Chancellor stated that the University was guided by a deliberate mandate to reposition FUPRE as a globally competitive and innovation-driven institution anchored on five strategic pillars: excellence in teaching and learning, impactful research and innovation, strong industry relevance, sustainable institutional development, and staff and student welfare. According to him, the administration has recorded measurable progress across all critical sectors within one year, laying what he described as “a firm and sustainable foundation for global relevance in energy education, research, and innovation.”
Prof. Agbalagba disclosed that one of the administration’s major achievements 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. He explained that examination administration was significantly strengthened through improved scheduling systems and the institutionalization of Computer-Based Testing (CBT) for general courses, culminating in the successful conduct of the University’s first-ever institution-wide CBT examinations during the 2025/2026 First Semester examinations.
According to the Vice-Chancellor, the reform enhanced transparency, reduced examination malpractice and human-induced errors, eliminated cases of missing scripts, and significantly accelerated result processing through the upgraded student academic portal. He further stated that academic governance was strengthened through the Directorate of Quality Assurance, which now ensures strict compliance with lecture timetables, standardized curriculum delivery, and continuous monitoring of academic processes in line with National Universities Commission (NUC) benchmarks.
In what he described as “a major institutional milestone,” Prof. Agbalagba announced that FUPRE attained 100 percent full accreditation status for all seven programmes presented during the October/November 2025 NUC accreditation exercise. The 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 academic reforms, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the administration embarked on an extensive digital transformation programme aimed at modernizing academic and administrative operations across the University. He revealed that the academic portal was upgraded to support real-time registration, payments, academic tracking, and result access for over 25,000 student interactions annually, thereby improving efficiency, accessibility, and transparency in academic management.
Prof. Agbalagba further stated that fibre-optic infrastructure was expanded across strategic sections of the campus to improve internet connectivity and digital access, while approval was granted for the renovation and relocation of the University radio mast to the ICT Centre to strengthen internet broadcasting and support access to the TETFund-backed NgREN cloud infrastructure.
As part of efforts to position FUPRE within global smart-campus standards, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University established two modern e-learning and content creation studios through TETFund intervention, equipped with advanced audio-visual facilities for digital teaching, online learning, and content development. He added that the administration also sustained the development of Smart Classrooms, including the Lulu Briggs Smart Classroom project, while modular solar systems were deployed across ICT laboratories, administrative facilities, Smart Classrooms, and digital studios to ensure uninterrupted operations and sustainability of critical ICT infrastructure. “These interventions are positioning the University within the global standard of smart campus operations, where digital systems drive efficiency, innovation, accountability, and academic excellence,” he stated.
Speaking on the University’s Distance and E-Learning initiative, Prof. Agbalagba revealed that the platform recorded over 85 percent readiness during mock accreditation exercises ahead of NUC resource verification. He explained that the initiative was developed in response to the growing demand for flexible learning opportunities, particularly among professionals within the oil and gas industry and beyond who may not have the opportunity to return to campus for full-time study.
According to him, the platform is expected to expand access to more than 10,000 learners annually, including executive programme participants, international students, and professionals seeking specialized training. He added that programmes such as Computer Science, MBA, executive education, professional certifications, and industry-focused short courses would be delivered through the platform, significantly strengthening human capital development and boosting the University’s internally generated revenue. “It is a strategic step that positions FUPRE as a truly global university in energy education and training,” the Vice-Chancellor stated.
Highlighting the administration’s achievements in research and innovation, Prof. Agbalagba disclosed that the University recorded remarkable growth in intellectual property development, with 21 patents and invention disclosures registered within one year across robotics, renewable energy systems, smart technologies, nanotechnology, automation, environmental engineering, 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 Pick-and-Place Industrial Robot, Smart LPG Cylinder Monitoring System, Human Kinetic Energy Harvester, Rice Husk Biomass Briquette Machine, Plantain Fibre-Extraction System, Compact Fluidized Bed Combustion System, and Paper Waste-to-Ceiling Board Technology.
The Vice-Chancellor noted that the innovations reflected a deliberate institutional transition from theoretical research to solution-driven and industry-relevant innovation capable of addressing national development challenges and creating economic value.
According to him, the University recorded over 40 percent growth in research output compared to the previous year.
He further disclosed that the Department of Science Laboratory Technology successfully developed 15 nano-based products spanning healthcare, environmental applications, industrial processes, and materials science, all of which are currently receiving institutional support for scaling and commercialization.
On global visibility and academic recognition, Prof. Agbalagba announced that three distinguished scholars of the University — 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, reflecting the growing global research visibility and scholarly impact of the University.
The Vice-Chancellor further disclosed that FUPRE 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 (NSChE) National Student Convention 2025 held in Enugu, FUPRE students also 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.” Prof. Agbalagba described the achievement as further evidence of the University’s growing reputation for innovation, creativity, and academic excellence at the national level.
The Vice-Chancellor also highlighted major progress in infrastructure renewal and campus modernization, revealing 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, procurement of laboratory equipment and smart boards, renovation of Entrepreneurship Development Offices, procurement of a 30-seater Toyota Coaster Bus, and renovation of Hostel C alongside hostel furnishing and electrical installations.
According to him, 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, sporting facility upgrades, perimeter fencing expansion, and campus beautification projects.
“These interventions represent a structured capital development programme already delivering visible impact while laying a strong foundation for future expansion,” he said, adding that the projects were deliberately designed to improve learning conditions, administrative efficiency, residential capacity, safety, and the overall campus environment.
In what he described as “one of the most ambitious energy sustainability drives in the history of Nigerian universities,” Prof. Agbalagba announced that FUPRE recently secured approval for a 2-megawatt solar power project valued at approximately ₦3.5 billion through the Federal Ministry of Power to strengthen electricity supply and support campus-wide electrification.
He further disclosed that the University is advancing plans for a proposed 10-megawatt solar electrification project aimed at achieving stable renewable energy supply across the campus and reducing dependence on the national grid. “We are working with relevant stakeholders to redesign and reinforce our energy architecture to ensure long-term reliability, efficiency, and sustainability,” the Vice-Chancellor stated, noting that the University was also engaging the Rural Electrification Agency (REA) on strengthening existing renewable energy systems.
Prof. Agbalagba stated that student welfare remained central to the administration’s priorities, revealing 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, enhanced staffing capacity, strengthened emergency response systems, and solar-powered water infrastructure.
Campus security, according to him, was reinforced through expanded CCTV surveillance systems, improved security coordination, and the installation of additional solar-powered street lighting across strategic sections of the campus. On industry collaboration, the Vice-Chancellor disclosed that the University secured a major training partnership with Edo Refinery and Petrochemical Company for asset management capacity development, alongside ongoing discussions with other industry stakeholders involving technical services, gas calibration, research support, and capacity-building initiatives.
“These engagements are not only financial in value but strategic in nature, as they expand practical exposure for students, deepen institutional relevance, strengthen local content development, and reinforce the University’s mandate of producing industry-ready graduates,” he stated.
Looking ahead, Prof. Agbalagba revealed that the University recently secured a ₦700 million TETFund intervention for laboratory and workshop upgrades, as well as ₦247 million support for the Petroleum Visualization Centre project, which is expected to serve as a major simulation and research hub for oil and gas solutions. 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, the Vice-Chancellor appealed for stronger government support, increased industry collaboration, specialized funding support, and full implementation of the FUPRE Establishment Act to further strengthen infrastructure, renewable energy deployment, research commercialization, digital learning, and staff welfare. Reaffirming the University’s commitment to national development and global competitiveness in energy education, Prof. Agbalagba declared: “Together, we are building a stronger, smarter, innovative, and globally competitive FUPRE.”
The Vice-Chancellor’s One Year in Office Anniversary Celebration attracted a large and distinguished audience comprised of the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Engr. Prof. Chiedu N. Owabor; the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Omosede E. Osafile; the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Jane E. Omoyine; the Bursar, Mr. Mark Titus Binwal; and the University Librarian, represented by Dr. Saturday U. Omeluzor. Also in attendance were deans, directors, heads of departments, faculty members, staff, FUPRE alumni, students, representatives of host communities, invited guests, and other stakeholders from within and outside the University community.
The celebration reaffirmed FUPRE’s commitment to academic excellence, innovation, research, infrastructure development, and global competitiveness, as stakeholders expressed confidence in the University’s continued growth and transformation under the leadership of the Vice-Chancellor.
