The matriculation ceremony, held on Saturday, marked a major milestone for the fresh students, who were officially admitted into the University through what the management described as a rigorous, merit-based admission process. The Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Administration), Professor Chiedu Uwabor, performed the matriculation on behalf of the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Ezekiel Agbalagba, congratulating the students on earning a place in the institution and describing the occasion as the start of a transformative academic journey.
In his address, the Vice-Chancellor urged the new students to internalise the University’s motto, “Excellence and Relevance,” as a guiding principle not only for academic success but also for character development. He cautioned that while university life offers increased independence and freedom, such privileges must be exercised with discipline, integrity, and sound judgment.
Professor Agbalagba emphasised that FUPRE maintains a zero-tolerance stance on cultism, drug abuse, examination malpractice, cybercrime, and other forms of misconduct, warning that involvement in such activities could derail students’ academic and professional futures. He noted that matriculation formally inducts students into a scholarly community dedicated to knowledge, ethical conduct, and purposeful excellence, preparing them to innovate, lead, and contribute meaningfully to national and global development.
Highlighting the institution’s strategic importance, the Vice-Chancellor described FUPRE as Nigeria’s first and only specialised petroleum university, the first of its kind in Africa, and the sixth globally. Established to deliver world-class education, research, and hands-on training in petroleum, energy, and allied disciplines, he said the University is uniquely positioned to produce industry-ready graduates capable of solving real-world challenges.
He further pointed to the University’s growing national and international recognition, citing the success of FUPRE’s Chemical Engineering Hackathon team, “The Alchemists,” which emerged first at the 2025 Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers (NSChE) National Student Convention in Enugu. He also disclosed that three FUPRE scholars were recently ranked among the top two per cent of scientists globally in the Stanford University–Elsevier Global Ranking, while the institution received the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Golden Jubilee Award for outstanding contributions to petroleum education.
Providing a statistical overview of the matriculating students, the Vice-Chancellor revealed that the cohort comprises 1,980 males and 410 females admitted into the College of Science, College of Engineering and Technology, College of Maritime and Offshore Studies, College of Computing, and the College of Petroleum Administration and Management.
He expressed particular satisfaction with the admission of pioneer students into newly introduced programmes under the College of Petroleum Administration and Management, including Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Procurement Management, Petroleum Information Management, and Entrepreneurship. According to him, these programmes represent a significant expansion of FUPRE’s academic and professional offerings, aligning education with emerging industry needs.
In addition, the University admitted its first cohort of students into Petroleum Chemistry, Biochemistry, and Microbiology within the College of Science, further strengthening its multidisciplinary approach to energy and scientific research.
The ceremony culminated in the administration of the Matriculation Oath, officially ushering the students into the FUPRE community as full-fledged members committed to academic excellence, innovation, and personal growth.
Dignitaries in attendance included the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), Professor Omosede E. Osafile; the Registrar, Dr. (Mrs.) Jane E. Omoyine; the University Librarian, Professor Mercy Anyaegbu; Deans of various Colleges, Directors, Heads of Departments, and other senior officials.
This year’s matriculation underscores FUPRE’s continued dedication to developing skilled professionals and future leaders for Nigeria’s petroleum and energy sectors, while fostering research, innovation, and global best practices.