A Brief history of the Department
The Department of Chemistry (initial name) was created in 1976 when the Faculty of Science was established in line with the Federal Government policy of creating seven (7) new second generation universities – Bayero University, Kano inclusive. The Department started under the Headship of Prof. B. J. Sulter-Duke in February 1977 and graduated first set of fifteen (15) students in 1980/81. Two (2) of the students made First Class Honours Degree. Three (3) students had Second Class Upper Honours, Eight (8) students had Second Class Lower Division while two (2) students had Third Class Honours Degree. The Department continued to grow in terms of Staff strength and development, student enrolment and facilities. By 1984/85, the Department was viewed as one of the best in the country in terms of teacher – student ratio and also twenty one (21) Lecturers out of twenty two (22) had PhD degrees. The Department in 2004/05 started B.Sc. Industrial Chemistry programme and was later renamed as Department of Pure and Industrial Chemistry in 2008 awarding B.Sc Chemistry and B.Sc Industrial chemistry degrees. Currently, the Department runs programmes at postgraduate levels (both M.Sc, M.Phil. and PhD) in areas of Physical , Organic, Inorganic, Polymer, Colour and Analytical Chemistry. Of recent (2020/21 session), the department commence additional new program; the B.Sc. Forensic Science and students have already been admitted as the pioneer set, this is expected to cater for the needs of forensic science locally and internationally.
Consequently, laboratory facilities were been rehabilitated and expanded to cover the teaching and research needs in the areas of Analytical, Colour/Polymer, Inorganic, Organic, Physical and Industrial Chemistry. In addition, the well-equipped Instrumentation Laboratory and a Glass Blowing Workshop were also been remodeled. At present, out of the academic Staff strength of 50 personnel, 90% are products of the Department’s Staff development programme. The Department is also endowed with almost 25 technologists across all levels to support the academic staff in practical sessions and research.
The Department was ran under the headship of the following Staff during the sessions indicated against their names:
- Prof. B. J. Sulter-Duke 1977/78 – 1980/81
- Prof. T. A. Olagbemiro 1981/82 – 1983/84
- Prof. A. M. Qureshi 1984/85 – 1989/90
- Prof. A. I. Onuchukwu 1990/91 – 1991/92
- Prof. B. B. Dambatta (Former Vice Chancellor) 1992/93 – 1993/94
- Dr. M. M. Idris 1994/95 – 1995/96
- Dr. W. L. O. Jimoh 1996/97 – 2002/03
- Prof. A. A. Audu 2003/04 – 2006/07
- Dr. S. M. Gumel 2006/07 – 2010/11
- Dr. M. A. Kurawa 2010/11 – 2014/15
- Dr. H. Musa 2014/15 – 2018/19
- Dr. I. T. Siraj 2018/19 - Date