Botany Department was carved out from Biological Sciences in January 2020. After inception of the University in 2004, Botany was one of the three programmes under the Department of Biological Sciences. From a modest beginning with 22 students and four members of staff Headed by Mr. Kennedy P. Yoriyo, within two years, the Department has grown tremendously both in number of Students and Staff. At inception, the Biological Sciences Department was under the coordination of Prof. Goje Uba Garba then Dean Faculty of Science 2005-2006, and Mr. Kennedy P. Yoriyo as pioneer Head of the Department 2005-2006. Towards the end of 2006, Dr. (Mrs.) V. M. Y Dan was appointed as the Head of Biological Sciences from 2006 - 2007. Within her tenure the Department was able to acquire a well-equipped laboratory. Dr. Fatima Tahir became the Head of Department from 2007 – 2010. Within her tenure the Department was able to acquire a well- established Botanical garden to enhance teaching and research as well as herbarium within the Department. Dr. A. G. Ezra was appointed Head of Department from 2010 - 2016. Dr. D. M. Umar was appointed Head of Department from 2016 – 2019. The senate in 2020 considering the increase in the number of students decided to approve the splitting of Biological Sciences into three Departments namely; - Biology, Botany and Zoology. In 2020; Dr. Halima M. Abba was appointed the pioneer Head of Department of Botany from 2020 - 2024. The Department during her tenure links were created with sister Departments in the university and with other Universities outside the country. The links was extended with other research bodies such as the Nigerian Montane Forest Project at Ngel-Nyaki forests Mambila plateau in Taraba State. The Department has also been working with other Departments within the University to enhance collaborative research. Currently, the Department ranks among the best within the Faculty of Science and the University at large. In 2024 Prof. Aliyu Babale was appointed the Head of Department during his tenure Solar power and other accessories were installed in the Department, Bank Account was opened for the Department with Sterling Bank, Botanical garden was reorganised for research and teaching, Herbarium was upgraded and now visible both at the national and international. Recently the Department has written letters to several Universities and research institutes, for collaborative researches. In 2025 following a proposal submitted to the senate by the Department requesting for change in the Departmental name, the senate after series of deliberations, approved the new Departmental name as Plant Sciences. The Department have developed curriculum to suite the changing societal needs in order to move with the changing world of Science.
Introduction
For the new students, the Department of Plant Sciences welcome you to its folds and congratulates you on your admission to this great and prestigious University Primus Interpares (first among equals), located in the Gombe “Jewel in the savannah.” The department is among the thirteen departments that make up the Faculty of Science. Many of our pioneer students have distinguished themselves creditably in their internal semester exams as well as at their SIWES locations based across the State /Country. You should, therefore, count yourself among the fortunate and lucky to have been admitted in to this Department. Once again, the Departmental Staff and returning Students welcome and congratulate you, with the hope that you will make a very good use of the resources (both human and material) and services available in the Department, to develop yourself morally and intellectually, so as to become a positively contributing members of the society.
Course overview
From exploring the smallest building blocks of life, to entire sprawling ecosystems, our Plant Sciences degree offers a comprehensive understanding of the intricacies and interconnections of life on Earth and the challenges it faces due to human activity. During the first year of your Plant Sciences course, you will gain a solid grounding in key Plant Sciences concepts such as cells, genetics, plant physiology and other plant characteristics, and ecology. From year two and three of your Plant Sciences course, you can choose to study topics across the plant sciences or focus on key specialisms aligned to your career goals. In your final year, you will have the opportunity to unleash your creativity by undertaking a substantial piece of meaningful research on a topic that excites and challenges you. Your research project is an excellent opportunity for you to draw together skills in experimental study design, critical interpretation of data, presentation and project management. To hone your communication skills, you will also present the outcomes of your final year research project in a similar context of a realistic research conference experience. On your adventure through your Plant Sciences degree, you will have regular access to our Botanical garden and our large plant collection in the Herbarium as well as diverse campus to develop practical plant science skills. Our campus offers a range of woodlands, grasslands, and streams for you to hone your biodiversity surveying skills in a familiar environment before exploring field sites beyond the campus. A key feature of this course is our structured programme of academic and professional development presentations by students, for effective communicating to diverse audiences. The Department will provide you with tools, skills and the connections to develop a strong foundation of employability skills for your future career.  This programme has been accredited by the National Universities Commission (NUC) following an independent and rigorous assessment. Accredited degree programmes contain a solid academic foundation in Plant Sciences knowledge and key skills, as well as prepare graduates to address the needs of employers. The accreditation criteria require evidence that graduates from accredited programmes meet defined sets of learning outcomes, including subject knowledge, technical ability and transferable skills.

For the new students, the Department of Plant Sciences welcome you to its folds and congratulates you on your admission to this great and prestigious University Primus Interpares (first among equals), located in the Gombe “Jewel in the savannah.” The department is among the thirteen departments that make up the Faculty of Science. Many of our pioneer students have distinguished themselves creditably in their internal semester exams as well as at their SIWES locations based across the State /Country. You should, therefore, count yourself among the fortunate and lucky to have been admitted in to this Department. Once again, the Departmental Staff and returning Students welcome and congratulate you, with the hope that you will make a very good use of the resources (both human and material) and services available in the Department, to develop yourself morally and intellectually, so as to become a positively contributing members of the society

For admission into Plant Sciences degree programme in the Department, a student must satisfy the minimum University and Faculty of Science requirements of an O- level credit in Biology and credits in four other subjects (Chemistry, Physics/Geography/Agriculture, English and Mathematics) at the GCE ‘O’ level or SSCE. For direct entry admissions into 200 level of study, a prospective candidate must satisfy the requirements stated above and in addition possess two or more A- level papers (or its equivalent), which must include Biology and Chemistry.

A student in this Department is said to be ‘acceptable or good academic standing’ if his/her CGPA is 1.00 or higher. To obtain a degree in Plant Sciences, UTME student must obtain a minimum of 120 credit units while direct entry students must obtain and pass a minimum of 90 credit units. This is however, distinct from the minimum of 30 credit units per session which students must maintain in order to graduate within the minimum prescribed period for course programs in the Department.

Is to educate sound plant Scientist especially in the Agro-allied areas of plant ecology, Plant Physiology, Breeding, Anatomy, Ethno-botany and Pathology, aspects of Horticulture and Conservation of Plant Germplasm.