The Department of Zoology is one of the foundation Departments created in 1982. The Department was headed by Dr. O.M. Onagbesan between 1982 and 1987. The Department started with twelve (12) students in the 1982/83 Academic Session and six (6) Academic Staff. Subsequent leadership of the Department is as follows: Prof. O.A. Egunjobi (1987 – 1993), Dr. John A. Aina, (1993 – 2001). Dr. L.K. Olofintoye (2001-2002), Prof. V.L. Yoloye (2002-2005), Dr. S.O. Adewole (2005-2007), Dr. (Mrs.) R.F. Ogunleye (2007-2009), Dr. L.K. Olofintoye (2009-2011), Dr. J.A. Oso (2011-2013), Prof. L.K. Olofintoye (2013-2014), Dr. O. Fagbuaro (2014-2016), Dr. (Mrs.) J.B. Edward (2016-2018), Dr. O.T. Omotoso, (2018-2020) and Dr. (Mrs.) E.O. Idowu (2020-2022), Dr. (Mrs.) F.A. Ola-Oladimeji (2022-2023), Dr. O. F. Olorunniyi (2023-2025). The current Head of the Department is Dr. R. O. Agunbiade. The Department has passed through a series of accreditation exercises by the NUC and graduated students up to the doctoral level. The name of the Department of Zoology was changed to the Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology in 2015/2016 academic session.
The Philosophy
Zoology is a branch of Biology devoted to the study of the animal kingdom (Animalia). The study of Zoology can be viewed as a series of efforts to analyse and classify animals. This enables Zoologists to identify, compare and relate the complexity of structures and functions in different groups of animals. Apart from these, it also enhances the behavioural studies in animals i.e. Physiology, Psychology and Entomology. In view of these, primary attention is given to the complex pattern of interactions among the many species of animals constituting a community as useful to mankind. This has led to the central development of conservation and environmental control in the immediate environment of man. It also reveals the deleterious effects of pesticides and industrial pollutants as they affect mankind.
Environmental Biology is the training of personnel to the highest academic standard in solving environmental issues. Environmental Biology is designed to provide the training needed for the understanding of the environment and to build upon this foundation by exploring in some depths, resource depletion, recycling, reuse and impact on the environment.
The Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology is therefore designed to inculcate all areas of philosophical and human understanding of animals and the environments occupied by the animals in relation to developing the nation and the entire world at large.
Mission Statement of the Department
The Department’s mission is to offer sound and qualitative education in areas of need such as Molecular Biology/Biotechnology, Genetic Engineering and Biostatistics. The Department remains committed to the pursuit of the University objectives in running a world-class academic programme for the development of entrants towards obtaining degrees in Zoology and Environmental Biology with emphasis on the different areas of specialization such as Ecology, Environmental Biology, Genetics, Entomology, Cell Biology and Histology, Hydrobiology and Fisheries, Parasitology, Physiology and Nematology.
General Services and Academic Programmes
The Department of Zoology and Environmental Biology offers a programme of courses, leading to the degree of Bachelor of Science in Zoology and Environmental Biology. The undergraduate programme is designed to provide sound, broad-based knowledge in both basic and applied Zoology leading to a career in the field of Education, Agriculture, Human and Veterinary Medicine, Wildlife Conservation and Fisheries. The programme is tailored to the need of Nigerian society and aims at producing graduates equipped to investigate and provide solutions to problems of food, disease and the environment. In the first three years of the programme, students are exposed to the fundamentals of Zoology and the related supporting courses in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Plant Science, Genetics, Microbiology, Physics, Mathematics, Statistics and Computer Science. In the final year emphasis is placed on developing some competence in specialized areas of Zoology such as Applied-Entomology, Applied-Parasitology, Fisheries and Aquaculture, Genetics and Environmental Biology and Ecology. The academic programmes and institutional activities of the Department are facilitated through the tutorial and the laboratories in the regular programmes and Institute of Science Laboratory Technology for the award of a B.Sc. degree.