Buhari canvasses for prudence in management of varsity resources

President Muhammadu Buhari has urged university administrators to key into the federal government’s policy and avoid wastage of resources.

Buhari made the call on Saturday at the second convocation ceremony of the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Ugbomro, in Uvwie Local Government Area of Delta.

The university graduated a total of 735 students, 642 of them with first degree and 93 with postgraduate diploma.

The president, whose welcome address was read by his representative, Minister of State (Education), Professor Anthony Onwuka, said government would no longer condone corruption in any form.

I killed Titi’s family members because she aborted our unborn baby ― Suspect

“The very scarce resources that are made available must be judiciously utilised to give value to the system.

Buhari challenged FUPRE to be a catalyst for greater innovation and to be a pacesetter for technological revolution in the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

“The determination by my administration to make our country great in the oil and gas sector prompted my assent to the FUPRE Establishment Act in 2017 to give the university a greater latitude and impetus to excel.

“I am happy that the university is gaining new height under my watch in tandem with its mandate to offer courses of instruction, training and research in petroleum technology and allied areas for the production of middle and high level manpower,” he said.

Earlier, Professor Shehu Zuru, pro-chancellor of FUPRE, had appealed to the federal government to implement all sections of the University Establishment Act to the letter.

Zuru said the implementation of the act would galvanise development both in capital project and staff welfare to make the institution a global centre of excellence with capacity to attract the best of expertise.

Also speaking, the FUPRE chancellor, Alhaji Attahiru Ahmad, called on the federal government to urgently commence the implementation the act by way of funding.

He said the development would enable the university to truly reflect its position as the first specialised petroleum university in Africa and sixth in the world.

In his welcome address, the vice chancellor of FUPRE, Professor Akii Ibhadode, urged the federal government to give the institution relevant tasks in its development plans for execution.

Ibhadode who was represented by the institution’s deputy vice chancellor (Administration) said the institution would channel its intellectual resources on the tasks and deliver on them timely.

Highlight of the ceremony was the award of honorary degrees to Dr Ambrosia Orjiakor, chairman of Seplat Petroleum Development Company Plc; Mr Abiola Oyedotun, managing director, Banco Serengeti Limited, and Mr Ned Nwoko, managing partner, Nwoko and Nwoko Solicitors.