The Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) has admitted its first set of students, marking the commencement of academic activities at the newly established institution.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, disclosed this during the opening of a three-day colloquium on the Operationalization of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland, organized by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to Mmom, over 500 pioneer students have been admitted and are set to begin their studies.
“The Vice-Chancellor, principal officers of the University, and the Governing Council were inaugurated on August 11, and we have hit the ground running. We have now admitted over 500 pioneer students who will begin their academic journey with us any moment from now,” he said.
Mmom also revealed that the university will collaborate closely with the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) in Ogoniland on areas such as environmental management, knowledge exchange, and manpower development.
He recalled that FUET was formally established following the signing of its enabling Act into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 3, 2025, describing the institution as a strategic response to Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, the push by HYPREP to operationalize the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland has received strong endorsements from international partners, environmental experts, and academia.
Speaking at the event, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, announced that the Centre, located in Wiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, is 92 percent complete.
“The establishment of the CEER is a key UNEP recommendation designed to drive research, innovation, and capacity building in environmental restoration,” Zabbey said.
“When operational, it will create thousands of jobs and serve as a hub for environmental research and skills development.”
He added that the Centre— which also houses the Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre — will preserve the Ogoni clean-up experience, pioneer new environmental technologies, and provide vocational training for communities across Ogoniland and the Niger Delta.
Zabbey commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, for prioritizing the Ogoni clean-up, noting that HYPREP has recorded significant progress since 2023 in areas including site remediation, potable water supply, public health, sustainable livelihoods, shoreline clean-up, mangrove restoration, and the development of key infrastructure such as the CEER and the Ogoni Power Project.
Representing the Embassy of the Netherlands, Political Officer Ms. Anneloes Hoff reaffirmed her government’s commitment to supporting the restoration of Ogoniland.
“It’s really great to see the advancement in the Ogoni clean-up over the past years. We hope that the CEER will be another step in the right direction towards full restoration,” she said.
Also speaking, former Head of the UNEP team on the Ogoni Study, Mike Cowing, commended Nigeria for emerging as a continental leader in oil spill remediation, describing the CEER as a “transformational milestone” in Africa’s environmental recovery efforts. FUET Admits First Set of Students as HYPREP Advances Ogoni Restoration Project
The Federal University of Environment and Technology (FUET) has admitted its first set of students, marking the commencement of academic activities at the newly established institution.
The Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Chinedu Mmom, disclosed this during the opening of a three-day colloquium on the Operationalization of the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland, organized by the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.
According to Mmom, over 500 pioneer students have been admitted and are set to begin their studies.
“The Vice-Chancellor, principal officers of the University, and the Governing Council were inaugurated on August 11, and we have hit the ground running. We have now admitted over 500 pioneer students who will begin their academic journey with us any moment from now,” he said.
Mmom also revealed that the university will collaborate closely with the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration (CEER) in Ogoniland on areas such as environmental management, knowledge exchange, and manpower development.
He recalled that FUET was formally established following the signing of its enabling Act into law by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on February 3, 2025, describing the institution as a strategic response to Nigeria’s growing environmental challenges.
Meanwhile, the push by HYPREP to operationalize the Centre of Excellence for Environmental Restoration in Ogoniland has received strong endorsements from international partners, environmental experts, and academia.
Speaking at the event, HYPREP Project Coordinator, Prof. Nenibarini Zabbey, announced that the Centre, located in Wiyaakara, Khana Local Government Area of Rivers State, is 92 percent complete.
“The establishment of the CEER is a key UNEP recommendation designed to drive research, innovation, and capacity building in environmental restoration,” Zabbey said.
“When operational, it will create thousands of jobs and serve as a hub for environmental research and skills development.”
He added that the Centre— which also houses the Integrated Contaminated Soil Management Centre — will preserve the Ogoni clean-up experience, pioneer new environmental technologies, and provide vocational training for communities across Ogoniland and the Niger Delta.
Zabbey commended President Tinubu and the Minister of Environment, Balarabe Lawal, for prioritizing the Ogoni clean-up, noting that HYPREP has recorded significant progress since 2023 in areas including site remediation, potable water supply, public health, sustainable livelihoods, shoreline clean-up, mangrove restoration, and the development of key infrastructure such as the CEER and the Ogoni Power Project.
Representing the Embassy of the Netherlands, Political Officer Ms. Anneloes Hoff reaffirmed her government’s commitment to supporting the restoration of Ogoniland.
“It’s really great to see the advancement in the Ogoni clean-up over the past years. We hope that the CEER will be another step in the right direction towards full restoration,” she said.
Also speaking, former Head of the UNEP team on the Ogoni Study, Mike Cowing, commended Nigeria for emerging as a continental leader in oil spill remediation, describing the CEER as a “transformational milestone” in Africa’s environmental recovery efforts.