History and Philosophy of the Department of Crop Protection
The Department originated in February 2009 after splitting the former Department of agronomy and Soil Science. It offers undergraduate and Postgraduate programmes leading to the award of Bachelor of Agriculture, Master of Science (M. Sc.) in the following areas of Crop Protection: Phytomycology, Phytobacteriology, Phytovirology, Phytonemtology and Agricultural Entomology and is aimed at producing skilled and competent manpower for sustainable crop protection and the environment, via integrated pests and diseases management practices. The human resources and facilities available in the Department make the development of the young graduates possible through the undergraduate programme of the Department. In line with the overall philosophy of the faculty and the University, the programme shall be rooted in its host community and be a symbol of the aspirations of the community in terms of crop protection practices. Consequently, there are opportunities for formal training at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels for the acquisition of basic and higher degrees respectively. These training programmes are mounted through classroom instructions, laboratory practical, field demonstration, and workshop practice. Therefore, the Department shall address the sustainable crop protection and capacity–building in the fragile ecologically unstable Sudano-Sahelian region, thereby contributing to the faculty, University and the nation’s quest for food security and self-sufficiency.
Objectives of the Department of Crop Protection
To evolve effective ways of sustainable use of fragile land for crop protection, through emphasis on integrated pests and diseases management and biotechnology.
To produce graduates who have undergone a more practical and functional crop protection training, that will help Nigeria move towards self-sufficiency in food production to cater for both local and international markets.
To produce graduates of crop protection for not only public and private sector employment, but also for self employment and to enhance an appropriate, manageable crop protection technologies to modernize the agricultural production, storage, processing and preservation.
To produce a new cadre farmers who would be able to engage themselves in crop protection and research that would provide useful and appropriate solutions to the nation’s agricultural problems.