Biological Sciences / School of Natural and Applied Sciences / College of Science and Technology / Colleges / Home

Overview

Department of Biological Sciences is a leading academic Department in the School of Natural and Applied Sciences of the College of Science and Technology. The Department runs three academic Programmes in the Life Sciences – Applied Biology & Biotechnology (formerly Biology), Biochemistry, and Microbiology. All the Programmes have the full accreditation status of the National Universities Commission (NUC).

The Department is committed to raising a new generation of leaders in the Life Sciences by driving excellence in teaching, research and community development in line with the vision and mission of Covenant University. The faculty and staff are highly motivated and dedicated to the delivery of best quality education to the students through strict adherence to well structured course compacts, lecture schedules, use of ICT driven modes of Lecture delivery, tutorials, relevant laboratory experiments and field trips. Lecture attendance by students as well as in-loco parentis and mentorship role of faculty are vigorously driven. The curricula of the Programmes, lecture materials and practical manuals are regularly updated to make them current, robust, life-applicable and adequate to address contemporary issues on methodologies, product development, scientific and technological advances in food, agriculture, medicine, and allied industries. The laboratories are constantly furnished with modern scientific equipment and apparatuses for regular students’ experiments, research and specialized laboratory services. Hence, the turnout of well-trained graduates with in-depth theoretical knowledge and practical skills in their fields of study, providing the nation with dedicated and competent manpower as envisage by Vision 2020. To date, the Department has produced over 115 graduates including the overall best graduating student of Covenant University in 2010 with a record CGPA of 4.99!

The Department pursues basic and applied research in all areas covered by the three academic disciplines. She is also making advances in the cutting-edge research and training in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology. Ongoing research projects in the Department include the ground breaking research in bioresource utilization, product formulation and enhancement, waste bioconversion, environmental and pollution control, Gene sequencing and molecular studies of protein sweetener plants, drug development and medicinal plant research, among others. The number of patents and articles published in quality journals and/or presented in conferences annually by faculty in the Department reflects the research output of the Department. The Department hosted a workshop on Molecular Biology in July, 2008 and the 1st and 2nd International Biotechnology Symposium (IBS) in April, 2009 and March, 2010 respectively.

It is therefore with joy and gratitude to God that I present this edition of the Departmental Handbook. The Handbook contains general and current information about teaching, research, and other activities in the Department, Community Development Initiatives and the awards and accomplishments of faculty and staff. Information contained therein will be useful to students, parents, guardians and everyone interested in the Programmes offered by the Department.

Philosophy and Objectives

Our Vision

To be a leading, world-class, academic Department committed to raising a new generation of leaders in the fields of Applied Biology, Biotechnology, Biochemistry, Microbiology and allied disciplines.

Our Mission

To provide a wholesome, research-based, participatory, and contemporary educational experience in the Life Sciences through a modern and vibrant education system as envisioned in the Parameter 4 of Nigeria’s Vision 2020.
To produce graduates in the Life Sciences who will be specialists in their chosen fields of study and thereby provide adequate and competent manpower for the nation in line with Nigeria’s Vision 2020.
To train students in the Life Sciences using practical, interdisciplinary approach that is value driven and life-applicable and capable of meeting societal needs, especially in the area of improved crop and animal varieties, development of new industrial products, effective drugs and vaccines, etc. thereby enhancing the people’s living standard and life-expectancy as contained in Parameter 5 and 6 of Nigeria’s Vision 2020.
To produce world-class scientists equipped to lead the biological revolution that will transform the nation’s agriculture, medicine, industry and the environment, and thereby eradicate poverty and hunger, combat diseases and ensure environmental sustainability in line with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and Nigeria’s Vision 2020.

Philosophy of the Department

The Department of Biological Sciences strives to achieve the University’s set goal of developing the total man through instruction and mentorship, participatory basic and applied research as well as generating community-relevant information and technologies. Programmes in the department are designed to provide the students with a thorough, broad and balanced foundation in their fields of study in order to prepare them for career opportunities or an environment whereby they could be creative, innovative and self-reliance in the growing and expanding disciplines.

Mission Statement

The Undergraduate and graduate academic programme at Covenant University is focused on raising a new generation of leaders equipped in their total personality to positively influence their community and restore hope to the citizens of their nations and to mankind in general. The programmes are designed to provide the students with a thorough, broad and balanced foundation in order to prepare them for career opportunity or an environment whereby they could be creative, innovative and self-reliant.

The Department strives to achieve alongside the University’s goal of developing the total man at the undergraduate and graduate levels; through instruction and mentorship, participatory basic and applied research as well as generating community-relevant information and technologies.

We teach to provide a wholesome, research-based, participatory and contemporary undergraduate and graduate educational experience in the biological pursuit.

Our courses are designed to afford the student practical, first hand, interdisciplinary approaches in the biological sciences, with the understanding of the relevance of biological studies to the society.

The department provides leadership in the local, national and hopefully international community of biological scientists; and collaborates with several other departments and institution to promote developmental research in the areas of Bioinformatics and Biofuel research.

Our ultimate goal is changing perspectives through community-relevant research, the transfer and dissemination of research results, information and technologies, through internationally recognized symposium, workshop and research collaborations.

Research & Development

S/N	STAFF NAME	CURRENT RESEARCH INTEREST
1	Prof. Egwari L.O.	Microbial fermentation, anaerobic diseases of humans, probiotics
6	Dr. Chinedu S.N	Enzymology and environmental biotechnology, waste bioconversion and pollution control
7	Dr. (Mrs.) Ajayi A.A.	Enzymology, comparative studies on cell wall degrading enzymes from different varieties of tomatoes
8	Dr. Ajele J.O.	Enhancing the stability of industrially important enzymes to make them more industrially relevant
9	Dr. Ogunledun A.	Isolation and characterization of microflora of yogurts with a view to producing starter cultures in recombinant forms for CU
10	Dr. McLoone P. R.	The effects of medicinal plants on the skin. The effects of environmental pollution on the immune system
11	Dr. Oranusi S.U.	Hazard analysis critical point (HACCP) evaluation of consumable products and implementation in production
12	Dr. Oyegoke O.O.	Exploring the potentials of insect larvae in compounding poultry and fish foods
13	Dr. Elemo G.N.	Processing and production of packaged snails and grasscutters feeds
14	Dr. Afolabi I.S.	Bio-resource utilization of papaya seed: A waste product in Nigeria
16	Dr. Uttah E.C.	Prevalence of Paragonimus metacercariae in crabs and crayfishes sold in the markets in southern Nigeria. Molecular characterization of infected and uninfected mosquito and butterfly vectors of lymphatic Filariasis and Onchocerciasis
17	Dr. Iweala E.J.	Chemo-preventive potentials of locally consumed food crops
18	Dr. (Mrs) Eni A. O.	Epidemiology and molecular characterization of viruses infecting important tropical plants
19	Omonhinmin A.Conrad	Phyto-remediation using Ludwigia spp Bioinformatics analysis of thaumatin-like protein in Thamatococcus daniellii TLP (PR-5) Protein Characterization in several plants
20	Mr. Adebayo A.H.	Biochemical and toxicological assessment of natural bioactive products Phytochemical analysis Clinical biochemistry
21	Mr. Nwinyi O.C.	Biodegradation of organic pollutants Organic and medicinal plant research Molecular studies on micro-organisms for bioremediation
22	Mrs. Olasehinde G.I.	Medical Microbiology and Parasitology
23	Miss Ayepola O.O.	Molecular epidemiology and multi-drug resistant organisms in South West Nigeria Antimicrobial activity of medicinal plants
24	Mr. Abolaji A.O.	Biochemical and reproductive toxicology, clinical biochemistry, medicinal plant research Present research work: Reproductive toxicity of Artemisia annua
25	Mrs. Ogunlana O.O.	Antimicrobial and toxicological investigation of the extracts of C. bonducella. Clinical Biochemistry, Biochemical toxicology and application of bioinformatics tools
26	Mrs. Omotosho O.E.	The reaction of haemoglobin sulphydryl groups with 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoate): A model for the protection of sulphydryl groups in living systems. Functional fruits and single cell proteins.
27	Miss Dike I.P.	Clinical and Molecular Genetics Biomedical Genomics and Applied Biotechnology Phytomedicine and Environmental Studies
28	Mr. Ayanda O.I.	Fish parasitology, gut histology and enzyme characterization
29	Miss Ayodele W.O.	Antioxidant effects of some plant extracts on certain biochemical markers of oxidative stress in murine salmonelosis
30	Mr. Rotimi S. O.	Alteration of metabolisms of nutrients in health and diseases

Activities in the department

Faculty and staff of the Department of Biological Sciences are basically engaged in teaching, research, and community impact services. Other activities that are periodically carried out in the Department include:

Seminars
Training Workshops
Conferences/Symposia
Biotech Week
SciTech Week (formerly Tech Week)
Product Analysis for Industries/organizations
Excursions/Field trips
University Programmes

Linkages and collaborations

The Department through its activities and efforts of her faculty and staff has established linkages and collaborations with several Universities, Research Institutes and Government agencies. They include Institutions where some members of faculty in the Department have carried out research studies and others that have had their staff participate in the activities of the Department, such as Workshops and Conferences/symposia. Some of such Institutions are:

Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT), India.
Kunming Institute of Botany, Kunming, China.
International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Trieste, Italy.
National Biotechnology Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria.
International Institute for Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Ibadan, Nigeria.
Raw Material Research & Development Council, Abuja, Nigeria.
Stored Products Research Institute, Ilorin, Nigeria.
National Root Crop Research Institute, Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria
Federal Institute for Industrial Research Oshodi (FIIRO), Lagos, Nigeria.

Admission Requirements

To qualify for admission into the Applied Biology and Biotechnology, Biochemistry or Microbiology Programme, a candidate must possess at least five (5) credit passes in SSCE/ GCE/ NABTEB/ NECO (O’ level), obtained in not more than two sittings. The subjects must include the following: English Language, Mathematics, Chemistry, Biology (for all the programmes) and Physics (for Biochemistry and Microbiology programmes). In addition, the candidate must pass the UME of the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) and fulfil all other admission requirements prescribed by Covenant University.

Staff List

S/NO.	NAME	STATUS	QUALIFICATIONS
1	Prof. Egwari L. O.	Professor	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
2	Dr. Ajele J.O.	Associate Professor	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
3	Dr. Obembe, O.O.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
4	Dr. Chinedu, S.N.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
5	Dr. (Mrs.) Ajayi, A.A.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
6	Dr. McLoone Pauline R.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
7	Dr. Afolabi Ogunledun	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
8	Dr. Oranusi S.U.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
9	Dr. Oyegoke O.O.	Senior Lecturer	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
10	Dr. Afolabi I.S.	Lecturer I	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
11	Dr. Uttah E.C.	Lecturer I	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
12	Dr. Iweala E.J.	Lecturer I	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
13	Mr. Omonhinmin, A.C.	Lecturer I	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc. (Hon)
14	Dr. Eni A.O.	Lecturer II	Ph.D., M.Sc., B.Sc.
15	Mr. Adebayo, A.H.	Lecturer II	M.Sc., B.Sc.
16	Mr. Nwinyi O.C.	Lecturer II	M.Sc., B.Sc.
17	Olasehinde G.I. (Mrs.)	Lecturer II	M.Sc., B.Sc.
18	Mr. Abolaji, O.A.	Lecturer II	M.Sc., B.Sc.
19	Ogunlana, O.O. (Mrs.)	Lecturer II	M.Sc., B.Sc.
20	Ayepola O.O. (Miss)	Assistant Lecturer	M.Sc., B.Sc.
21	Omotosho, O.E. (Mrs.)	Assistant Lecturer	M.Tech., B.Tech.
22	Dike Ijeoma P. (Ms)	Assistant Lecturer	M.Sc., B.Sc.
23	Mr. Ayanda O.I.	Assistant Lecturer	M.Sc., B.Sc.
24	Ayodele W.O. (Miss)	Assistant Lecturer	M.Sc., B.Sc.
25	Mr. Rotimi S.O.	Assistant Lecturer	M.Sc., B.Sc.
26	Mr. Abah S.E.	Research Fellow	B.Sc.

Biological Sciences

Chinedu Shalom