The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE), Delta State, has officially matriculated 2,115 new students for the 2024/2025 academic session.
The ceremony, held on Wednesday, February 5, 2025, marked a significant milestone for Africa’s premier petroleum university, reinforcing its dedication to academic excellence and innovation.
Speaking at the event, the Vice-Chancellor, Engr. (Prof.) Akpofure Rim-Rukeh, FNES, represented by the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Prof. Godswill Ofualagba, welcomed the new students into the FUPRE community.
He highlighted the university’s status as Africa’s first and the world’s sixth petroleum-focused institution, emphasizing its commitment to cutting-edge research, training, and consultancy in the energy sector.
Prof. Ofualagba noted that FUPRE is home to four dynamic colleges—the College of Science, College of Engineering & Technology, College of Maritime and Offshore Studies, and the recently established College of Computing.
He announced that the College of Computing had admitted its pioneer students into specialized programs such as Software Engineering, Data Science, Cybersecurity, and Information Technology.
Additionally, he revealed plans to launch the College of Petroleum Management and Policy Studies and a Centre for Open and Distance Learning, expanding access to quality education.
He also highlighted FUPRE’s global recognition, citing the university’s impressive performance at the 2024 Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) competition in New Orleans, USA, where FUPRE students secured third place globally—making it the second-highest-ranked African institution in the competition’s history.
Providing a breakdown of the newly admitted students, Prof. Ofualagba stated that the 2,115 matriculants were selected through a rigorous Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) process, comprising 1,798 male and 317 female students.
He urged the students to focus on their studies, uphold ethical standards, and avoid social vices such as cultism. He emphasized that success is a continuous journey and encouraged them to pursue their studies with discipline, purpose, and unwavering focus while maintaining high ethical standards both on and off campus.
He further reminded the students of FUPRE’s motto, “Excellence and Relevance,” encouraging them to make the most of their academic journey and contribute meaningfully to society.
The matriculation ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including the Pro-Chancellor, members of the Governing Council, Deans of Colleges, the Registrar, Dr. Jane Omoyine (Dean, College of Science), Prof. Ezekiel Agbalagba (Dean, College of Engineering & Technology), Prof. Ikuobase Emovon (Dean, College of Marine and Offshore Studies), Prof. Chidi Nwoha (Dean, College of Computing), and Prof. Arnold Ojugo.
Also present were distinguished faculty members, the President of the Student Union Government (SUG), Comrade Edematota Etiosa Oghenemaro, SUG Secretary, Comrade Tochukwu Raphael, parents of matriculating students, and members of the media.
The event marked the beginning of a new academic journey for the students, reinforcing FUPRE’s commitment to producing innovative and disciplined graduates for the petroleum and allied industries.
