About Us

History

The B.Sc. Physics programme in the Faculty of Science, University of Ilorin, was introduced as one of the first set of academic programmes started by the University in 1976 – 77 sessions. From that time the programme and the Department fostering it have developed considerably in terms of the staff strength, available laboratory space and other physical facilities, student numbers, curriculum and research as briefly outlined below.

Under the general supervision of the foundation Dean of Faculty of Science, Professor M.O. Olofinboba, the B.Sc. (Hons) Physics and B.Sc. (Ed.) Physics programmes were run by some part-time academic staff from the year 1976 – 77 when the first set of three students were admitted at 200 level. One of the students took courses for B.Sc. (Ed.) – Physics Education. The Laboratory staff of four members headed by a Senior Technologist, Mr. V. F. Ojo, assisted the part-time lecturers to acquire the first set of laboratory equipment and conduct the practical Physics courses.

In the second session, 1977 – 78 the first set of full –time academic staff comprising 1 Reader who served as Acting Head of Department, 2 Senior Lecturers, 1 Assistant Lecturer (NYSC) and 1 Graduate Assistant arrived and taught the courses for the three classes at 100,200 and 300 levels.

From 1978, the University’s bold staff development scheme made possible the training of a number of staff from B.Sc. to Ph.D. levels in various Universities abroad. Three of them returned to strengthen the staff by 1984. And since that time, there has been continuation of such scheme which allows staff to be trained for M.Sc. and Ph.D. programmes in various fields of Physics either at home or abroad.

The academic staff establishment of the Department now stands at 16, comprising 6 Professors, 2 Readers, 4 Senior Lecturers, 4 Lecturer I, 0 Lecturer II, 0 Assistant Lecturers. There are also at present 3 Senior and 5 Junior laboratory staff and 2 Senior and 3 Junior Office staff members.

Starting from 1976, the Department shared with other Department of the Faculty of Science the few and rather small buildings previously vacated by the Kwara State College of Technology. More and better space became available in 1979 – 80 session where a new two – storey laboratory block, also at the University’s Main Campus was completed. When the Faculty of Science moved in 1982 to the main Campus under the leadership of the then Dean of Faculty of Science, Professor J. O. Oyinloye, the Department moved with it to its permanent buildings which it now occupies. Having had the privilege of contributing towards the planning of the Laboratory and office blocks that were being built on the permanent site, the permanent buildings on the Main Campus provide adequately furnished Laboratory Lecture and office spaces for staff and students, except 100 level students who are at present very large in number and hence have their lectures in the two of the lecture Theatres (Lecture Theatre I and Science Lecture Theatre).

The department is now housed in the faculty of physical sciences, the erstwhile faculty of science having splitted into faculty of life and physical sciences in the year 2014.

There are five research observatories/stations for training and research purposes in the Department of Physics. These are the Digisonde and GPS (Global Positioning System) for Ionospheric and communication Physics studies, BSRN (Baseline Surface Radiation Networks) AERONET (Aerosol Robotic Network) for Solar and Atmospheric Radiation Measurements and the MAGDAS (Magnetic Data Acquisition Systems) also for Communication and Magnetic studies. The  (MAGDAS) is about 1km away from the Department, GPS receivers are housed in the Department of Physics in rooms 5F13 and 5F21, AERONET – CIMEL Sunphotometer is being hosted at Block nine (third floor). The other two stations (BSRN and DIGISONDE respectively) are hosted in block 4 (third floor) and Chemistry Department, respectively. The Surface Particulate Matter Network (SPARTAN) nephelometer (air sampler) is hoisted and hosted on the top of Block 4 (Physics Laboratory)