Nigeria: FG Approves N1 Billion Grant for Petroleum Varsity

Outgoing Education Minister Obiageli Ezekwesili today in Abuja said that the federal government had approved a take-off grant of N1 billion for the University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun, Delta.

Ezekwesili, who made this known at the inauguration of the governing council of the university, said the amount was to assist the institution in providing the necessary facilities for its take-off.
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She pointed out that in the interim, the new institution would operate from the facilities of Petroleum Training Institute at Effurun, under a facility sharing arrangement.

The minister said that the institution, which would develop under a three-phase arrangement, would take off in September with the College of Sciences.

“This is to provide a sound scientific base for the institution in core focus areas of petroleum technology,” she said.

“The university which would be operated under the collegiate arrangement, would then go on to add the petroleum and oil technology programmes in the second phase,” the minister said.

According to her, management related programmes would begin in the third phase.

Ezekwesili said the composition of the board was a demonstration of the believe of the federal government that those who “shape the agenda of our citadels of learning should be people of distinction”.

Information from: allafrica.com