By Eseoghene Emuke
A bill for an act to amend the Federal University of Petroleum Resources (FUPRE), Effurun (establishment) Act, 2017, being sponsored by the member representing Okpe, Uvwie and Sapele Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives, Hon. Efe Afe, has passed second reading on the floor of the House.
The bill, which seeks to transfer FUPRE from the ministry of education to the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in line with its establishment mandate, had already passed first reading on the floor of the House.
The sponsor of the bill and member representing Okpe, Uvwie and Sapele Federal Constituency, Chief Afe told members of the House that the proposed amendment when passed into law will help the university focus on its core mandate of providing skilled manpower for the nation’s oil and gas industry
He explained that the benefit of the amendment bill amongst others “it will afford the University the privilege of attracting superlative manpower and expatriates to build internal capacity, make Commerce the exchange and collaborative programmes where experienced hands in the petroleum industry will take up practical courses as students are sent at intervals to the field for first hand practical exercise.
“The bill will also enhance the funding of the university through the Petroleum Trust Development Fund, PTDF, and other agencies that have direct bearing with oil and gas industry as envisioned in the principal act.”
The bill after passing through second reading was referred to the House Committee on Tertiary Education for further legislative inputs by the speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Femil Gbajabiamila.
