Brief History of the Department

The Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology (PSB) started as the Department of Botany during the 1962/63 Session at the Dennett building which it shared with Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology. It was among the original Departments in the Faculty of Sciences as at the 1962/63 Session. The first Head of Department of the then Department of Botany was Prof. H. Z. Naqui, a Plant Pathologist. He held office from the 1962/63 – 1964/65 Sessions. In 1973/74 the Department of Botany was placed under the Faculty of Biological Sciences which came into existence when the Faculty of Science was split into the Faculty of Physical and Biological Sciences.

In 1976/77 Session, the Department came under the re-designated Faculty of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences. By 1980/81 Session the Department returned to the Faculty of Biological Sciences when the former twin Faculty of Biological and Pharmaceutical Sciences was split into the Faculty of Biological Sciences and Pharmaceutical Sciences. It has since then remained in the Faculty of Biological Sciences but was renamed in 2013 to the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology.

Philosophy

The programme is designed to produce skilled and knowledgeable graduates in all aspects of Plant Science and Biotechnology. The graduates are expected, to become conscious of their environment and appreciate the delicate balance between plant life and the existence of the earth.

Objectives

The objectives of the programme are to:

  • Equip the graduates of the new Department with sound theoretical and practical knowledge in Plant Biotechnology so that they can compete effectively both locally and internationally.

 

  • Equip them with research skill in Plant Science and Biotechnology knowledge and skill in entrepreneurship in mushroom technology, herbal plants.

 

  • Produce graduates with adequate and appropriate skill that can enable them proceed for further studies in specialized areas of Plant Science and Biotechnology.

 

Scope

The programmes are designed to give an understanding of the basic principles of biological sciences and give depth in various aspects of Plant Science and Biotechnology including Pulp and Paper Technology, Timber Products Technology, Plant Biotechnology, Algal Biotechnology Herbarium and Phytosystematics, Plant Tissue Culture and Micropropagation, Phytoremediation and Erosion Management, Phyto-Environmental Impact Assessment, Plant Molecular Biology, Genetic Engineering, Phytobioinformatics, Ethnomedicinal Plants,  Cytology, Genetics and Plant Breeding, Mycology, Plant Pathology, Plant Physiology, Plant Ecology, Aquatic Ecology/Limnology, Plant Embryology and Morphogenesis, Palynology, Plant Virology and Diagnostics, Mushroom technology.

 

Job opportunities

  • Students graduating from the Department of Plant Science and Biotechnology may choose careers in research and/or pedagogy in Colleges, Universities and Research Institutions, Government, Agriculture, Forestry, Criminal Investigation Institutions, Biotechnology Research Centres, Conservation and Wild-life Management; Wood Technology and Industries, such as Sugar, Rubber, Paper Pulp, Fertilizer and Oil (Vegetable and Mineral), Petroleum Refinery; Mushroom Production; Floriculture, hedging and landscaping using indigenous and exotic hedge plants; Establishment of orchards and plantations for food and raw material production; macro-propagation of many economic tree crops; off season vegetable and fruit production and preservation; production of seedless fruits; establishment of germplasm companies; beekeeping for honey and synergy in  crop productivity.

 

  • Areas of self-employment include formulation and marketing of Herbal soaps, identification, naming, preservation and use of medicinal plants for health care delivery through refining of unacceptable crude practices by indigenous people; organic horticulture through composting; production of phytoplankton for biofuels and feeding of animals especially fishes; recycling of waste products; construction of bioreactors for energy production for households; production of fruit juices from assorted fruits and their combinations.

 

Direct Entry Requirement

In addition to the University minimum entry requirements, direct entry candidates are expected to obtain;

i.Credit passes in Biology, Chemistry, Mathematics, Physics and English Language in the West African School Certificate Examination or G.C.E. ‘O’ level or N.E.C.O or any other acceptable equivalent qualification, at not more than two sittings.

  1. Passes in the Higher School Certificate (H.S.C) Examination or G.C.E. ‘A’ level or its equivalent in Chemistry and Biology or Botany or Zoology.

OR

The Nigerian Certificate in Education (NCE); Higher National Diploma (HND) of College of Technology and Polytechnics in relevant subjects.

Stress Areas

General Plant Science and Biotechnology                                                      0

Plant Morphology and Taxonomy/Biosystematics                                         1

Plant Anatomy                                                                                                2

Plant Physiology                                                                                             3

Mycology                                                                                                        4

Plant Genetics and Molecular Biology                                                           5

Plant Ecology & Economic Botany                                                                6

Plant Biotechnology                                                                                       7

Seminar                                                                                                           8

Project                                                                                                             9