By Emma  Amaize
WARRI— PLACARD-CARRYING students of Federal University of Petroleum Resources, FUPRE, Ugbomro, Delta Delta, yesterday, protested the non-accreditation of degree programmes offered by the institution since it was established.

The university was set up five years ago.

The studenst, who refused to sit for their final year examination, which ought  to have kicked off last week, unless they were given assurances that their certificates would give them job after graduation, were defiant, despite appeal by the dean of students affairs, Dr. Arubaye and others.

Their spokesman and a former students’ union leader, Mr. Michael Nwaosisi,  told the embattled Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Babatunde Alabi, that they were embarrassed that the degree programmes, which the university admitted them to study were not certified by the National Universities Commission, NUC.

He said the students had previously written the university authorities on their plight, but the management did not bother to respond, a development that led to the protest.

Nwaosisi said the students had resolved not to sit for the final year examination until the issue of accreditation of their degree programmes was  resolved.

Addressing the students, Prof Alabi, urged them to write their final year examination, saying, it was one of the criteria for accreditation of the programmes.

He told them that the process of accreditation of the degree programmes of the university was on top gear, and hopefully, in the next three months, it will be a thing of the past.

He pleaded with the students to call off the protest as it would tarnish the image of the school.