History of the Department

history

The Faculty of Science is located within the core of the Main Campus, Samaru. It was established at the founding of the Ahmadu Bello University in 1962. The Faculty started with six departments and has grown over the past fifty-three years into not only one of the largest faculties in the University with nine degree awarding departments, but also one of the largest faculties of science in any Nigerian University.

The foundation Departments were Botany, Chemistry, Geography, Mathematics, Physics and Zoology. The Departments of Botany and Zoology were later merged into the Department of Biological Sciences. The Departments of Geology and Microbiology were created in 1969 followed by Biochemistry in 1975 and Textile Science and Technology in 1980.

It is of interest to note that the present Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences as well as the Department of Chemical Engineering were conceived and nurtured in the Faculty of Science. The Centre for Energy Research and Training and the Institute of Computing & ICT were also formerly part of the Faculty of Science.

The Faculty has grown tremendously over the years and now has staff strength of 489 academic staff which includes over 60 fully fledged professors.

The Faculty offers four-year degree courses leading to a B.Sc. (Hons) degree in single subjects in all departments of the faculty except for the Department of Textile Science and Technology, which offers a 5-year degree programme. The Faculty also offers postgraduate diploma courses in some of its departments. Some courses in the Faculty are also combined with Education for a B.Sc. (Education) degree or a B.Ed. (Science Education) degree. The Faculty offers postgraduate programmes up to Ph.D. level in all its nine departments. The Faculty turned out its first set of graduates in 1965 and has since produced high quality graduates at first and higher degrees who have been making their contributions to various sectors of the Nigerian economy and to the international community at large.

Some of the courses in the Faculty especially at the 100 level are also given as part of the degree programmes in Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Engineering, Pharmaceutical Sciences, Agriculture, Environmental Design, Education and some other Faculties.

Mission Statement

To produce highly skilled manpower with adequate theoretical and practical knowledge in Biochemistry, Molecular biology, Biotechnology, Nutrition and Environmental conservation and safety to meet the requirements of modern research and industry for the development of the community and the world at large.

Vision Statement

Department of Biochemistry ABU shall be a world class Department comparable to any other engaged in imparting contemporary knowledge in biochemistry, molecular biology, biotechnology, Nutrition and Environmental conservation and safety using modern state of the art teaching and research facilities to aspiring scientist from all over the world; develop and pursue innovations relevant to the immediate needs of the community, Nigeria and the world at large.


Programme Philosophy

The major thrust of the Department’s Programmes is teaching and research, which must have considerable biochemical content and should be conducted in any of the following or other areas of biochemistry under the supervision of approved supervisory committee as staff and equipment are available.

  • Molecular biology of Tropical diseases
  • Biotechnology & Medical Biochemistry
  • Medicinal Plants (therapeutic & toxicological evaluation)
  • Nutritional biochemistry & Environmental Toxicology
  • Enzymology
  • Microbial biochemistry
  • Analytical biochemistry
Google Scholar

Featured Staff on Research Visibility

Google Scholar

Prof. Muhammed Ahmed

We are proud to feature another distinguished scholar of ABU named Prof. Muhammed Ahmed, Professor/Consultant Urologist at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria who, as at the last check, had not less than 1,249 citations with (h-Index score of 11 and i10-Index score of 14) credited to his research works as documented on Google Scholar.

The featured scholar’s areas of interest/specialization include General Urology, endourology, urologic oncology and andrology

Citations Chart

1,249

CITATIONS

11

H-INDEX

14

i10-INDEX

To see how individual ABU scholars are performing and being ranked in general, [Click Here]