DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
WELCOME MESSAGE OF DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
Members of Department of Animal and Environmental Biology Board are delighted to welcome you into the Department, which is one of the nine departments in the Faculty of Biological and Physical Sciences of Abia State University, Uturu, in Abia State of Nigeria. Department of Animal and Environmental Biology has been in existence since the inception of the University in the year 1981 but as Department of Zoology.
The Department of Animal and Environmental Biology is housed on the upper floor of the old science Block of Abia State University main campus. The Department has appropriately equiped teaching laboratories and well-spaced lecture theatres. It maintains Aquaria, a Zoological garden and a Library. Animal and Environmental Biology, as a discipline, provides a link to other discipline, such as, Medicine, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Aquaculture, Fisheries, Hydrobiology. Environmental Sciences, etc.
The Department offers both undergraduate and post graduate degree programmes in the following disciplines: Medical Entomology and Parasitology, Hydrobiology, Animal and Environmental Physiology and Environmental Biology, A Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Degree in Animal and Environmental Biology is an excellent preparation for postgraduate programmes in a variety of fields enabling graduate to pursue numerous rewarding career interests.
BRIEF HISTORY OF DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL BIOLOGY
The Department of Animal and Environmental biology (formerly Zoology) was established with the inception of Imo State University (now Abia State University), in 1981. The Department commenced with one professor, one senior Lecturer, one Lecturer I and three Lecturers of other ranks. The Department has progressively been attracting experienced lecturers from older universities within then country as well as lecturers from other countries. The programme in Zoology was designed to train skilled manpower with general basic scientific knowledge in animal science. Initially emphasis was more on the traditional teaching of diversity, evolution, morphology, physiology, anatomy, ecology, etc. of animals. Some of the distinct units have now become major areas of specialization of lecturers. These include Parasitology and Public Health, Entomology and Pest Management, Fisheries and Hydrobiology. The department now has a multi-disciplinary approach geared towards applied fields such as Animal Productive Physiology, Ecotoxicology. Fish Productivity, Hydrobiology, Aquaculture and Environmental Impact Studies. This shift from the basic zoology teaching and research activities to the growth and diversification of the various units were in response to community, national and international expectations and needs. As part of our contribution to the overall academic objectives of Abia State University,
viz:
“TO CONTRIBUTE TO NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT, SELF RELIANCE AND UNITY THROUGH THE ADVANCEMENT AND PROPAGATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND TO USE SUCH KNOWLEDGE FOR SERVICE TO COMMUNITY AND HUMANITY”,
The then “traditional zoology has been revised to achieve the above stated objective and to accelerate our pursuit toward industrialization, socio-economic self-reliance and service to the community and humanity”. Hence the name changed from Zoology to Animal and Environmental Biology.
ACHIEVEMENTS/AWARDS BY THE DEPARTMENT
Two teaching staff of the Department of Animal and Environmental Biology have enjoyed Common Wealth Scholarship Awards, namely:
- Professor Solomon N. Umeham
- Solomon C. Udochi, 2016-2019.
NAMES OF PROMINENT ALUMNI OF THE DEPARTMENT
- Kalu Mong Kalu, Ph.D. (Reader) Head, Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University.
- Dr. Paschal E. Etusim (Reader), Department of Animal and Environmental Biology, Abia State University.
- Dr. Okechukwu I. Okogwu (Reader), Head, Department of Biological Sciences, Ebonyi State University, Abakiliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
