Department of Biochemistry

History

Biochemistry programme is one of the pioneer programme at the establishment of Joseph Ayo Babalola University in 2006, in the College of the then Natural Sciences. The department started with 24 students, and the department’s activities were coordinated from the office of the College Dean, Professor A.A. Odutuga, who was the pioneer Dean of the College of Natural Sciences and a Professor of Biochemistry. Later in 2007, the department was merged with the then Department of Chemistry under the headship of Professor J.F. Ojo to share administrative responsibility in the college at that time. A name, department of Chemical Sciences was coined for both departments. After that, Professor J.F. Ojo was appointed as the Head of the Department for the two programmes merged into one department. Shortly after the programme accreditation exercise in November 2022, the University Senate reverted the programme to a full department, which was approved at the senate meeting of April 2023 and the programme began operating back as a department in August 2023. Dr L.J. Babatola was appointed as the first substantive acting Head of the Department.

The department started in 2006 with the late Professor A.A. Odutuga, Mr J.B. Minari, Mr F.A. Bamisaye, late Mr J.O. Dairo and Mr L.J. Babatola as the pioneer staff of the programme, later, Mr Aduloju Samuel, Mrs B.C. Faleye, the late Miss Y.G. Adeyeye, Mr E. Alabi, and Dr Fagbohunka from Olabisi Onabanjo University joined the staff strength while Dr Iyawe from Ambrose Ali University joined on sabbatical. At a different time, the programme had Dr G. Oboh, and Dr M.T. Olaleye from the Federal University of Technology, Akure as part-time staff of the programme, Dr O.M. Oluba joined the workforce of the programme as well as Dr R. Ukpanukpong, Dr T. Berena. They all left at different times of the year leaving behind, Dr L.J. Babatola, different O.S. Tugbobo (part-time from the Federal Polytechnic Ado Ekiti), Mrs B.C Faleye, Mr E. Alabi and Professor A.A. Odutuga who finally dropped marker, and left the university service in the year 2020. In late 2019, Mr A.A. Adebayo joined and Mr A.A. Ayodeji (both are now PhD holders), and Mrs B. Fasuhanmi in late 2020.   

In the year 2010, Biochemistry turned out her first set of graduates with a first-class, and the programme has subsequently produced first-class students, as well as the best-graduating students, who were retained as graduate assistants; Mr Eze Fredrick, Miss R. Uyabeme and Miss O. Olarinde were retained and staffed for the programme but left at different times.

Over the years, the programme has developed both in capacity and frontier as it provides services to other departments like; the Department of Biological Sciences, Food Science Technology, Nursing, and Medical Laboratory Science.

The department presently has six academic staff on a full-time appointment, one technical staff, and one laboratory staff with two functioning laboratories (one for research and one for teaching) well stocked for undergraduate practical classes and postgraduate research.

Philosophy

The programme in biochemistry is designed to produce graduates with sound basic knowledge of biochemistry and its applications in all sectors of human endeavour – public, private, and industries. The students will gain experience in biochemical and related manufacturing industries in Nigeria to acquire adequate knowledge of the biochemical raw materials, their local sources, processing, production, quality control economics and marketing of the industrial products.

Vision

The objectives of the department are to:

  • Produce self-reliant graduates for self-employment.
  • Prepare well-trained personnel for ever-growing chemical and allied industries in Nigeria.
  • Prepare graduates for teaching and research work in industrial and applied chemistry in higher institutions and research institutes.
  • Acquire the necessary ability to tackle some human and environmental problems.
  • Offer a good background to study chemical sciences at the postgraduate level.

Staff List

L.J. Babatola

Rank: Senior Lecturer

Qualifications: UFD, PGD, MTech, PhD

Area of Specialisation: Functional Food and Toxicology Biochemistry

Email Address: ljbabatola@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08034223110

A.O. Ayodeji

Rank: Lecturer II

Qualifications: BTech, MTech, PhD

Area of Specialisation: Biotechnology and Enzymology

Email Address: aoayodeji@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08062207116

O. Adegoke

Position: Assistant Lecturer

Qualifications: BSc, MSc

Area of Specialisation: Food Biochemistry

Email: oodegoke@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08076753381

T.I. Babatunde

Position: Technologist II

Qualifications: HND

Area of Specialisation

Email: tibabatunde@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08104963799

A.A. Adebayo

Rank: Lecturer II

Qualifications: ND, BTech, MTech, PhD

Area of Specialisation: Food and Toxicology Biochemistry

Email Address: aaadebayo@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08037288629

B.C. Faleye

Rank: Lecturer II

Qualifications: ND, HND, BSc, Mtech

Area of Specialisation: Plant Biochemistry and Toxicology

Email: bcfaleye@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08034388640

M.S. Adegoke

Rank: Assistant Lecturer

Qualifications: BSc, MSc

Area of Specialisation: Toxicology and Molecular Biochemistry

Email: smadegoke@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08132736665

E.I. Alabi

Rank: Senior Lab Assistant

Qualifications: ND

Area of Specialisation

Email: eialabi@jabu.edu.ng

Phone Number: 08066040996