President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of a governing council and principal officers for the newly established Federal University of Environment and Technology, located in Koroma/Saakpenwa, Ogoni, Rivers State.
The appointments follow the enactment of a law in February 2025 that created the university, a major milestone for the Ogoni people and environmental education in Nigeria. The university is set to begin admitting its first batch of students in September 2025.
According to a statement from the presidency, Prof. Don Mon Baridam, a seasoned academic from the University of Port Harcourt, will serve as the Pro-Chancellor and Chairman of the Governing Council.
Prof. Chinedu Mmom, a former Rivers State Commissioner for Education and also from the University of Port Harcourt, has been appointed Vice-Chancellor of the institution.
Other members of the newly appointed governing council include:
- Emmanuel Onoja (North Central)
- Hamid Adekunle (South-West)
- Prof. Chima Oji (South-East)
- Alhaji Abdullahi Magaji Lamda (North-West)
The principal officers announced are:
- Dr. Mpigi Monday Douglas (South-South) – Registrar
- Zoryii Josco Nwaimanie (North Central) – Bursar
- Dr. Saghanen Ntogo G. B. (South-South) – Librarian
The establishment of the Federal University of Environment and Technology is seen as a strategic step toward addressing the educational and ecological needs of the Niger Delta region, particularly in Ogoniland, which has long suffered from environmental degradation.
