The B.Sc. Microbiology programme was first introduced as a unit in the year 2010 at the Department of Biological Sciences under the leadership of Dr. Fatima Tahir who served as the HOD from 2007-2010. In December 2014, the Microbiology as a separate Department was established with Professor Muhammad Dauda Mukhtar as the pioneer Head of Department and served from 2014-2016. Professor Fatima Tahir succeeded him and served as HOD from 2016-2017. Subsequently, Dr. Muhammad Tukur Adamu became the Head of the Microbiology Department and served from 2017-2024. Currently, Dr. Lawal Garba is the Head of the Microbiology Department following his appointment on 25th January 2024 by the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Usman El-Nafaty, OFR. Presently, the Department has full NUC-accredited programmes comprising B. Sc. Microbiology, M. Sc. Microbiology and PhD Microbiology both with options in Medical, Public and Environmental Health, Food/Industrial and Environmental fields. The Department has over seven hundred (700) students enrolled in both Undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes.

i. Training of Microbiology students to competitively international standards at both undergraduate and postgraduate level
ii. Broadly educate the students of microbiology qualitatively and prepare them for future industrial and field challenges including other areas of microbiology
iii. Training of students to competitively standard in Microbiology, Medical, Pharmaceuticals, Agricultural and Biological sciences to become distinguished researchers
iv. To provide students with a broad and balanced foundation and in-depth of microbiological knowledge and practical skills/techniques
v. To develop in students, a range of transferable skills that are of value in bio-chemical and non-biochemical employment
vi. To provide students with knowledge and skills base from which they can proceed to further studies in specialized fields of microbiology or multi-disciplinary areas and professional studies
vii. To produce quality researchers that can stand out and compete in world class
viii. To develop qualified personnel that could provide consultancy service in the areas of diagnostic/ tertiary health care, public health, molecular epidemiology/ disease surveillance, food safety and biochemical/ chemical Analysis of international standards.

To produce graduates that are highly research oriented, self-reliant, can stand the test of time and also compete excellently with their counterparts elsewhere in the world and meet global demands in any field of the Microbiology and Biotechnological research.

A model Department that is well-equipped and well-managed, contributing positively to the development of the Faculty, University, and Society at large.

UME For admission into B.Sc. Microbiology in the Department, a student must satisfy the minimum University and Faculty of Science requirements of an O-level credits in Biology and four other subjects (Chemistry, Physics, English and Mathematics) at the GCE ‘O’ level, SSCE or its equivalent. Students that have successfully completed Remedial Programmes approved by the University Senate and meet requirements are also eligible for admission. In addition, an acceptable pass in the University Matriculation Examination (UME) into 100-level is required. Direct Entry For direct entry admission into 200 level of study, a prospective candidate must satisfy the requirements stated above and in addition possesses two or more A-level papers (or its equivalent), which must include Biology and Chemistry.

The Duration of B.Sc. Microbiology programme is four years except for Direct Entry students for whom it is three years. There are two semesters of formal University studies in each academic session. At 300 level, a student is expected to go for 6-month Students Industrial Work Experience Scheme (SIWES) after completion of the first semester courses at the end of which he/she has to write, present and defend a report on what he/she did or learnt in the industry. At 400 level, students undertake a research project in any field of Microbiology interest, besides the usual prescribed courses.

For a student starting at 100 level to graduate, he/she has to earn at least a total of 140 credit units whereas a Direct Entry (DE) student has to earn at least a total of 104 credit units.