FUPRE Reveals 21 Patents, Aims For 10,000 E-learners In Digital Expansion

The Federal University of Petroleum Resources, Effurun (FUPRE) has announced a major leap in innovation, recording 21 patents spanning robotics, energy systems, and smart technologies within the past year.

According to reports, the Vice-Chancellor, Ezekiel Agbalagba, made the disclosure during a press briefing commemorating his first year in office. He was joined by senior members of the institution’s management, including Deputy Vice-Chancellors Chiedu Owabor (Administration) and Omosede Osafile (Academic).

Agbalagba explained that the university is deliberately steering its research focus toward practical, market-oriented solutions, highlighting innovations such as firefighting and surveillance drones, autonomous delivery systems, biomass-powered energy machines, and intelligent LPG monitoring devices. He noted that the achievements underscore a transition from theoretical research to application-driven innovation with tangible industrial relevance.

The Vice-Chancellor further revealed that the institution is in the final stages of launching a digital learning platform designed to accommodate over 10,000 additional learners annually. The platform is expected to cater primarily to working professionals and individuals unable to participate in conventional full-time programmes, offering courses such as executive programmes, MBA degrees, and specialised training tailored to the oil and gas sector.

He added that the initiative aims to break the constraints of physical classrooms and expand global access to the university’s academic offerings, while also disclosing that the distance learning programme has already attained more than 85 per cent readiness for accreditation.