About Us

History

The Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development came into being at the commencement of the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences in the year 2009. The primary objective of the Department is to train Pharmacy students to become experts in the identification and application of natural products. The department is also focused on answering critical research questions in the field of natural product research thereby contributing to the development of our immediate community through various services.

The Department derived her staff from diverse specialties including highly trained groups of academicians, researchers, and support personnel. The academicians primarily consist of senior and younger lecturers who are responsible for teaching, carrying out research, and guiding students in their pursuit of knowledge. Support personnel encompasses administrative staff, and laboratory technologists who ensure the smooth functioning of the department and its facilities.

The department was first headed by Prof. Hajara IBRAHIM (2012-2014) after by Prof. Abdulkarim AGUNU (2014-2017), Dr Ngaitad Stanislaus NJINGA (2017-2018), Dr Bilqis Abiola LAWAL (2018-2019),  and Dr Francis Alfred ATTAH(2019-2023). The Department is currently headed by Dr Kayode Muritala SALAWU (Senior Lecturer) since 2023. The following staff have headed the Departmental Examination position: Dr Bilqis Abiola LAWAL (2012-2017), Dr Francis Alfred ATTAH (2017-2018), Pharm (Mrs) Sukurat Olasunbo USMAN (2018-2020) and Dr Kayode Muirtala SALAWU (2020 – 2023) and Pharm (Mrs) Sukurat Olasunbo USMAN (2023 to date)

The Department engages in a wide array of research areas which include classical pharmacognosy, Traditional medicine, phytochemistry, biological evaluations, chemical evaluations, metabolomic, Proteomics, and analytical techniques for drug quality assessment. The Departmental staff collaborates with other staff to explore innovative solutions in drug discovery, therapeutic applications, and the development of novel pharmaceutical products, contributing to advancing healthcare and pharmaceutical sciences.

The faculty’s dedication to academic excellence and professional development has allowed it to produce graduates who are well-equipped to tackle challenges in the field of pharmacognosy and drug development. These graduates have gone on to contribute significantly to the pharmaceutical industry, research, and healthcare sectors both nationally and internationally.

In conclusion, the Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences at the University of Ilorin, with its Department of Pharmacognosy and Drug Development, is growing and some landmark achievements since its establishment. The faculty’s commitment to fostering a conducive learning environment and promoting research has helped it maintain its status as a leading institution in pharmaceutical education and training.