Prof. Shehu Zuru, Pro-Chancellor, Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun, Delta State, on Thursday said the institution’s management would remain committed to improving on the existing learning conditions in the university.
Zuru, who is Chairman of the university’s Governing Council, made the remarks when he led some members of the Council to inspect some ongoing projects in the specialised university.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that projects inspected include the Solar Power project under the Rural Electrification Agency.
Other projects include buildings financed by the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND).
Addressing newsmen after the inspection, the pro-chancellor said the comfort of students of the university was paramount to the management.
“We are conscious of the fact that the conditions of FUPRE can be better; without the students, we will not be here,’’ he said.
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Zuru attributed the level of development in the university to the cogent and diligent efforts of both the management and the council.
“We are satisfied with the level of progress recorded. It is a remarkable stride that will help to change the narrative of FUPRE.
“We are hopeful that in no distant time, those projects will come on stream and duly handed over to the university.
“However, FUPRE is concerned about the slow progress of the projects awarded by TETFUND, because they are awarded with timeline.
“Unless those projects are completed, FUPRE will be denied access to funding and we will not accept that,’’ the pro-chancellor said.
Zuru said that the council would engage the contractors to ensure their action did not stall or frustrate the timeline of the delivery of the projects.
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According to him, the benefits of the solar power will transcend the confines of the university.
“Neighbouring host communities will also benefit from it as part of the institution’s Corporate Social Responsibility,’’ he said.
Zuru said that the relationship between the management and the unions had been cordial.
According to him, the unions are critical components in the management of the university and they are being taken along in every policy decision that affects them.
He described the media as a powerful instrument of reaching out to critical stakeholders in the management of the university system; particularly mentioning the Federal Ministry of Education, TETFUND and other agencies within the sector.
NAN reports that the inspection team comprised FUPRE Acting Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Rim-Rukeh Akpofure and FUPRE Registrar, Mr Morrison Ichendu.
Others were Prof. Christopher Ajuwa, Council Member; Hajia Haruna, Council Member; Rev. Father Oghenejode Abaka, Head, Public Relations Unit of FUPRE, among others. (NAN)
