Overview and History of Federal University of Agriculture Bassam-Biri, Bayelsa

 
In the heart of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, the Federal University of Agriculture, Bassambiri (FUAB) represents an ambitious and timely addition to the country’s higher-education landscape—especially as the nation seeks to strengthen its agricultural base, promote sustainable development, and harness the region’s rich natural resources. Set in Bassambiri, Opu-Nembe Kingdom, Nembe Local Government Area in Bayelsa State, the university offers more than academic credentials: it offers the promise of applied learning in an environment where agriculture, aquaculture, biodiversity and environmental management are not simply subjects in a classroom, but elements of lived reality. For prospective students, tackling today’s challenges—from climate change, ecosystem degradation, food security, land-use conflicts, to aquaculture and marine resource management—FUAB presents a distinctive opportunity. The location in the Niger Delta gives a living laboratory context: mangrove ecosystems, fisheries, deep-water aquaculture possibilities, oil-impacted lands, environmental restoration needs—all these offer real-world relevance. It means students are not only taught; they observe, research, engage and possibly transform their environment.

Joining FUAB means joining an institution at its foundational phase. That comes with both potential and responsibility. Students have the chance to help shape the culture, infrastructure, research agenda and identity of the school. They become pioneers in a new university whose mission is focused on agriculture and allied disciplines. At the same time, establishing institutions may face infrastructure building phases, resource constraints or incremental programme roll-out; wise students will evaluate readiness alongside ambition. In this piece, we will walk through the official website, motto (or core values), founder, history, leadership (chancellor or equivalent), accreditation & recognition, academic structure & facilities (with at least six distinct features), campus life & facilities, and the question of notable alumni (bearing in mind the newness of the institution). The aim is to give you a grounded, humanised, professional and informative sense of what FUAB is and what it stands for.

##Official Website
The official website of FUAB is https://fuab.edu.ng/Here, you’ll find key information on admissions, programme listings, academic development plans, contact details, campus location and recent updates (news, research centres, etc.). For anyone considering application, the website is a vital starting point for checking entry requirements, application processes and institutional announcements.

##Motto 
While the website does not appear to highlight a single succinct motto in the traditional “X for Y” format, FUAB articulates its Vision, Mission and Values. For example, the vision is: “To be a leading institution where teaching, learning, and practical activities are sustained by innovative research and development excellence, contributing to sustainable global development through community engagement.”  The stated values include Excellence, Justice, Integrity, Inclusive Access to scientific agricultural knowledge. 
Federal Uni of Agriculture, Bassambiri

Taken together, one could interpret the guiding ethos of FUAB as something like: “Innovation through Applied Agriculture for Sustainable Development.” This signals commitment to not just theoretical knowledge, but practical, community-engaged, applied outcomes.

##Founder
The Federal University of Agriculture, Bassambiri was founded by the Federal Government of Nigeria, as part of a broader initiative to establish new federal universities of agriculture in 2023. 

This federal origin means that the institution is publicly funded and intended to serve a national mandate—especially the agricultural and environmental needs of the Niger Delta region.

##History
The history of FUAB is brief but significant, reflecting national policy shifts, regional development imperatives and educational innovation.
FUAB was established in 2023 as one of twelve new federal universities set up by the Nigerian federal government. 

The university is sited specifically in Bassambiri, Opu-Nembe Kingdom in Nembe LGA, Bayelsa State, linking it physically and purposefully to the Niger Delta’s riverine, marine and agricultural ecosystems. 

According to the “About” page, academic activities are scheduled to commence in the 2025/2026 session. 
Federal Uni of Agriculture, Bassambiri
The site mentions Phase 1 involving 4 faculties and 26 departments (or more) and that the ultimate campus capacity is anticipated at 33,100 students, with full student housing via a BOT (Build-Operate-Transfer) model. 
Federal Uni of Agriculture, Bassambiri

Key aspects of the history include:

Recognising the strategic location in the Niger Delta where agriculture, aquaculture and environmental restoration are urgent and vital.

The adoption of an “industry-driven”, “hands-on” learning model—described on the Why FUAB page as “Fieldwork, labs, teaching & research farms… tie your courses to real problems across the Niger Delta”. 

Infrastructure development underway: the “set-to-take-off” article from September 2024 indicates that major renovation and preparation of the site was nearing completion—with course materials being prepared, campus building under way and community engagement in Bassambiri. 

All told, the history paints the picture of a modern, purpose-designed university created to serve region-specific, national-scale needs, rather than as a repurposed general-university building. For students, this means being part of an institution with clear thematic focus (agriculture/science/engineering) and an opportunity to engage deeply with relevant problems.

##Chancellor
While the website identifies the key academic leader as the Vice-Chancellor, it does not prominently list a ceremonial Chancellor in publicly accessible sources. The Vice-Chancellor is:
Prof. Reginald Inodu Keremah. 

Brief Biography:

Prof. Keremah holds a B.Sc from University of Ibadan, an M.Sc from Auburn University, USA, and a Ph.D from Rivers State University of Science & Technology. 
Federal Uni of Agriculture, Bassambiri

He is a scholar of fisheries and aquatic science; his research specialisation is in aquaculture/fisheries nutrition (e.g., prawn nutrition). 

His appointment as pioneer Vice-Chancellor of FUAB places the university under a leader with credible research credentials in fish/aquatic agriculture and with regional relevance (Bayelsa/Niger Delta).

Although the ceremonial Chancellor was not identified in my research, the presence of a capable VC with relevant background is a strong start for the institution’s academic leadership.

##Accreditation and Recognition
Accreditation and recognition are crucial for students to ensure their degrees are valid and valued. For FUAB:

The university appears in the list of “Federal Universities” published by the National Universities Commission (NUC) as “Federal University of Agriculture, Bassam-Biri, Bayelsa” established 2023. 

The website states that the university begins with departments approved by NUC (for example: the Academics page states 39 departments and 38 undergraduate programmes). 

The admissions portal confirms that for the 2025/2026 session admissions are open and that the university is actively recruiting students. 

Because the institution is new, full accreditation of each individual programme (especially engineering or professional disciplines) may still be in progress. Prospective students should always confirm the status of their chosen programme with the NUC and any relevant professional body. Nonetheless, the major indicators (federal founding, NUC listing, open admissions) provide positive signals.


##Academic Structure and Facilities
FUAB’s academic structure and facilities reflect its thematic focus and emerging infrastructure. Here are at least six key features:

Faculties and Departments – At commencement, FUAB lists 4 Faculties: 

Agriculture

Science

Engineering

Environmental Resources Management. 


##Campus Life and Facilities
Campus life at FUAB is still in its infancy, given the university is newly established and academic activities are set to commence in 2025/2026. Nevertheless, the institution already communicates a forward-looking student experience:

Location & Environment: The Bassambiri campus in Nembe LGA places students in a riverine/Niger Delta environment, offering unique opportunities for fieldwork and research in aquaculture, marine biology, environmental restoration, agriculture and community development.

Accommodation & Student Services: The university aims for 100% student housing via a BOT model, which means residential facilities are planned as a permanent feature. 

The Student Affairs unit is listed among support services. 

Labs, Farms & Fieldwork: Facilities like the teaching & research farm, fieldwork integration, labs and SIWES placement mean student life includes practical/experiential components.

Digital and Support Resources: The ICT Centre, e-resources, library, student welfare systems, entrepreneurship centre imply that campus life will involve both study and innovation.

Stakeholder & Community Engagement: The university emphasises community engagement, regional relevance and applied research. This means students might be involved in outreach, field studies, local partnerships—enhancing campus life with real-world integration.

Pioneer Cohort Culture: As one of Nigeria’s newest federal universities, students joining FUAB early will be foundational members—helping to shape societies, clubs, campus traditions and institutional identity.

Infrastructure Under Development: Because of the newness, students should expect some phases of construction or incremental facility roll-out; thus, flexibility and willingness to participate in building a place is key.