faculty of PHARMACY
About the Faculty
General Overview
Impacting Lives Through Pharmaceutical Knowledge and Care
The Faculty of Pharmacy was incepted as a School in the College of Medicine, University of Lagos in 1980. The foundation units, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Technology and the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognocy were created by Senate of the University in 1980. The two departments were then based in the School of Basic Medical Sciences. Given the necessary interactions between University of Lagos and the Pharmacy Board of Nigeria (now Pharmacists Council of Nigeria), that is, the regulatory Body in charge of Pharmacy education, there were developments in terms of infrastructure, teaching aids, academic staff, curriculum programme expansion and research facilities.
The faculty was later restructured into Four (4) departments. The faculty was officially recognized by the Pharmacy Board in May 1984 as an academic institution authorized by the Laws of the Land to train and graduate degree holders in Pharmacy in line with the appropriate tenets of the University of Lagos.
The Departments
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Department of Pharmacognosy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy.
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology
ACADEMIC LEADERSHIP:
The School of Pharmacy produced its first Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates in September 1984. Further developments within the School continued, and with the assistance of the Vice Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Oyewusi Ibidapo-Obe, the School attained the status of a Full-fledged Faculty of the University of Lagos in 2003. The philosophy of the Faculty is to ensure the establishment of standard and quality Pharmacy education which, the student must acquire to enable him/her give adequate professional competence for the various pharmaceutical services:
- Procurement
- Storage
- Dispensing of drugs
- Preparation
- Compounding
- Packaging of drugs and medicaments
- Monitoring drug utilization by patients.
FUTURE DIRECTION
The Faculty is advantageously positioned at Educating patients concerning appropriate use of their prescription and non-prescription medication, providing drug information to other health professionals e.g. veterinarians and physicians; Collecting and evaluating data from the patients, other health care professionals, the literature and past experience as an aid to drug therapy judgment, reviewing science publications in order to maintain and add to acquired professional knowledge. Participating in drug and pharmaceutical production and quality assurance in the industries. Participating in Good Clinical Practice, Public Health Pharmacy, Industrial Management and Business Administration.
The Faculty now has four postgraduate programmes which have served as templates for the training of about 20 PhD holders. Academic staff development is a very important concern of the University. The Faculty of Pharmacy continues to produce manpower in the different facets of the nation’s economy and industrial growth. It is worthy of note that the Faculty of Pharmacy attained Full accreditation sequel to the NUC visitation to the University of Lagos November 2005.
History of Faculty of Pharmacy
The Faculty of Pharmacy was incepted as a School in the Department of basic medical Sciences, College of Medicine. Over the decades, our Faculty has evolved significantly. Initially comprising two departments—Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology, and Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Pharmacognosy—we have grown into a robust academic institution with five specialized departments:
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry
- Department of Pharmacognosy
- Department of Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology
- Department of Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy
- Department of Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology, established in January 2020.
Officially recognized by the Pharmacy Board in 1984, the Faculty has consistently set high standards for training professionals equipped to meet the dynamic challenges of the pharmacy profession. The first Bachelor of Pharmacy graduates emerged in September 1984, marking the beginning of a legacy of excellence.
In 2003, with the support of the University management, the Faculty of Pharmacy was elevated to the status of a full-fledged Faculty, a milestone that underscores our commitment to advancing pharmaceutical sciences in Nigeria and beyond. Today, we continue to chart new frontiers, recently welcoming our inaugural cohort of Doctor of Pharmacy (PharmD) students for the 2024/2025 academic session.
Our Vision
To be a top-class institution for the pursuit of excellence in knowledge through learning and research, as well as in character and service to humanity.
Our Mission
To provide a conducive teaching, learning, research and development environment where staff and students can interact and compete effectively with their counterparts both nationally and internationally in terms of intellectual competence and zeal to add value to the world.
Dean’s Message
Welcome to the Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lagos — a centre of excellence in pharmaceutical education, research, and service.Since its establishment in 1980, the Faculty has grown into a vibrant academic community of about seventy (70) lecturers, including professors, associate professors, and dedicated teaching staff. For over forty-five (45) years, we have trained skilled pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists who contribute significantly to healthcare delivery and the advancement of pharmaceutical sciences both in Nigeria and globally. Our commitment to excellence, innovation, and community service reflects the University’s vision of being a world-class institution for knowledge and scholarship.
We offer a dynamic learning environment supported by experienced staff, modern laboratories, and strong industry collaborations. The Faculty comprises five specialised departments:
- Clinical Pharmacy and Biopharmacy — patient-centred care and optimisation of drug therapy.
- Pharmaceutical Chemistry — drug design, synthesis, and chemical foundations of therapeutics.
- Pharmaceutics and Pharmaceutical Technology — formulation, excipient development, and drug delivery systems.
- Pharmacognosy — exploration of natural products, medicinal plants, and traditional remedies.
- Pharmaceutical Microbiology and Biotechnology — antimicrobial research, resistance studies, and biopharmaceutical innovation.
Through our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, we equip students with the knowledge, practical skills, and ethical grounding to excel in an ever-evolving healthcare landscape. Our staff and students are actively involved in impactful research addressing pressing national and global health challenges.
We invite you to explore our website to learn more about our programmes, research, and partnerships. Whether you are a prospective student, researcher, alumnus, or collaborator, you are welcome to join us in advancing the frontiers of pharmaceutical knowledge and practice.
Professor Sunday Adeleke Adesegun
FACULTY DEAN
Insights of the Faculty
Programmes offered:
- Undergraduate: The Bachelor of Pharmacy (B.Pharm) →
- and the transition towards the Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D) professional degree.
- Postgraduate: MSc and PhD degrees in various pharmaceutical science disciplines.
Research & Innovation
- The Faculty places emphasis on cutting-edge research and has units such as an international standard Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) facility, computational research and drug information units.
- It publishes its own peer-reviewed journal: the Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Pharmacy Practice (JPSPP).
- It organises scientific conferences—for instance, the 4th Virtual Scientific Conference scheduled for 10-11 September 2025, under the theme “Translational Research and Strategic Partnership: Advancing Pharmacy and Health Systems”.
Distinctive Features & Achievements
- The Faculty boasts strong collaboration with industry and professional bodies, aligning education and research with national and global pharmacy practice trends.
- The move to the Pharm.D programme demonstrates its responsiveness to the evolving role of pharmacists in patient-centred care and modern healthcare delivery.
- Students and alumni of the Faculty have been recognised for academic excellence and professional achievement.
Admission & Contact Information
For undergraduate admission, the Faculty is listed under “Faculty of Pharmacy – Pharmacy” in the UNILAG programme list.
Contact details:
Phone: +234 7071467908
Email: subdeanpharmacy@unilag.edu.ng
Location: The Faculty is part of the University of Lagos, Idi-Araba campus (for the College of Medicine/Pharmacy area).
