History of the Department
The Department of Biochemistry was established in 2013 to cater for the rising need for Biochemists in the core catchment areas of the University, in particular, and the country, in general. The Department is responsible for running BSc. Honours Degree Programme in Biochemistry, teaching basic Biochemistry courses to students in the Department of Biology and Microbilogy, and any other Faculty that may require basic knowledge of Biochemistry in their training.
The Department will graduate its first set of BSc. (Hons.) students in 2017.
The department is endowed with four (4) Professors, one (1) Reader, seven (7) Senior Lecturers and nine (9) other academic staff, supported by six (6) laboratory Technologists and three (3) secretarial (3) staff.
Over the years, the various research teams in the Department have published well over ten (10) research papers in local and international peer reviewed journals. In the last three years, the Department have attracted research grants worth over twenty one (21) Million Naira. Staff have also won scholarships from the prestigious Tertiary Institutions Trust Fund (TETfund), to pursue studies in the Cyprus, Pakistan and Malaysia for MSc. and PhD. Over the years, the Department in terms of staffing, infrastructure, research, teaching and community service, (our basic mandate) has continued to grow from strength to strength.
Philosophy of the Department
The new insights on biological and physiological processes at molecular level gained in the past two decades are due to the multiplicity of new innovative techniques and research approaches in the areas of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, Pharmacology, Cell Biology and Biotechnology. These developments necessitated incorporation of the current theories and concepts in to our undergraduate degree programme. This is with the view to producing high calibre students with the basic knowledge of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology in order to become globally competitive, relevant and have the competency (both theoretical and practical) to work in public and private enterprises, hospitals, food and beverage industries, universities, research institutes, pharmaceutical industries, Biotechnological industries, regulatory agencies (e.g. NAFDAC and SON), petroleum industries, Agro Allied industries and in Medicine. It is our guiding philosophy to improve the human condition through our research, teaching and knowledge dissemination. We aim to produce Biochemistry graduates imbued with discipline, morality, hardwork, innovativeness and scholarship. Through this we contribute in providing middle cadre manpower for the scientific and social development of Nigeria, Africa in particular, and the world at large.
Goals and Objectives
The Department has the following as its goals and objectives:
- to provide qualitative education in Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
- to improve human health and welfare through biochemical and molecular biological research and community service.
- to increase the awareness of the role of Biochemistry and molecular biology in nutrition, health, industry, biotechnology and other fields of human endeavor. Also to provide competent manpower to man these sectors.
- to promote environmental conservation through biochemical education and research.
- to partake in the exploration and exploitation of our indigenous natural resources for the benefit of Nigerians, in particular, and humanity, in general.
- to impart the relevant skills expected of a University graduate with core knowledge of Biochemistry, Cell Biology, Molecular Biology and basic Bioinformatics.
- to produce graduates with the basic skills to participate in research and to effectively communicate findings to the community.
- to produce graduates with the ability to think and analyze Biochemical and Molecular Biological problems critically.