Brief on the Department

The Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture at Adamawa State University, Mubi, was established on 17th August 2005, evolving from the former Department of Animal Production and Aquaculture. The initial vision was to produce graduates with integrated animal and fish production skills. However, based on the recommendation of the National Universities Commission (NUC) Visitation Panel in 2004, the Fisheries and Aquaculture component was developed into a full-fledged department to meet the growing demand for specialised training in the field.

Academic activities commenced fully in the 2005/2006 academic session when students initially admitted into a Bachelor of Agriculture programme were allowed to transfer into the newly created Bachelor of Fisheries and Aquaculture programme. Among the pioneer students was Mr. Apollos T. Garba, now Head of Department.

The Department has been led by several distinguished scholars since its inception, including Professor S. L. Lamai, Professor B. E. Olufemi, Dr J. Auta, Mr Oladele I. Jegede, Professor A. B. Haruna, Professor D. C. Njoku, Professor Yusuf Ali Jamadar, Dr Aminu Raji, Mr Peter K. John and Professor Abigail Edward.

From a lowly beginning with four academic staff, the Department now exhibits a team of highly qualified professionals, including a Professor, a Reader, senior lecturers, technologists, and dedicated administrative and technical support staff. The Department is committed to teaching, research, and community engagement excellence.

Practical training has always been integral to the Department’s academic experience. Students regularly visit prominent institutions such as Yankari National Park, Wild-Life Park in Jos, the National Veterinary Research Institute in Vom, and the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research in New Bussa. These excursions provide exposure to real-world conservation, aquaculture, and ecological research.

The Department has benefited from significant institutional support. In 2007, the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) donated ₦10 million to construct staff offices. In 2008, the Department received a Corporate of Excellence Award from the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) for contributing to human resource development in fisheries. In 2006, the Adamawa State Government donated a one-hectare fish pond at Digil through the Ministry of Environment, further strengthening the Department’s practical training capacity.

Currently, the Department is well-equipped with two laboratories, a functional hatchery, a mini feed mill, two blocks of 20-unit concrete research ponds, fry rearing and production tanks, a fibreglass boat powered by a 40 HP engine, a fish kiln, and a range of fishing gear used for inland water training and research. The Department is also engaged in rural development and extension work through its partnership with Gauvva Integrated Farm Ltd. in Muzuwa village under the Lab-to-Land initiative.

As a centre of learning and innovation, the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture continues to produce skilled graduates equipped to address challenges in food and nutrition security, employment generation, and sustainable aquatic resource management in Nigeria and beyond.

Programmes Offered in the Department

A. Undergraduate Program ( Fisheries and Aquaculture)

The Fisheries and Aquaculture Programme is a five-year training structured to provide students with a solid foundation in fish production’s theoretical and practical aspects while developing essential 21st-century skills. These include communication, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration—crucial for professional success in today’s complex and dynamic fisheries and aquaculture sector. Students receive interdisciplinary training that situates fisheries and aquaculture within broader development contexts, highlighting their relevance to multiple Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) beyond food and nutrition security, employment, and livelihoods.

The five-year programme includes four years of the formal study period, excursion and field trips to relevant Fisheries establishments in the country, a year of Student Industrial Work Experience (SIWES), laboratory and field practicals,  and a project of one-year duration undertaken in the final year 500-level concurrently with 500 level courses.

The programme covers the entire fisheries and aquaculture value chain with various courses. This comprehensive scope prepares students to identify and exploit emerging opportunities across the sector. The curriculum includes contemporary courses such as Fisheries and Aquaculture in the Blue Economy and Entrepreneurship in Fisheries and Aquaculture. In addition, the recently revised course synopses reflect current global trends, ensuring that graduates are well-prepared to function as entrepreneurs, professionals, or researchers in national and international contexts.

OBJECTIVES OF THE PROGRAMME

The objectives of the B. Sc. Fisheries and Aquaculture programme are to:

• Produce proficient graduates with vast knowledge of fisheries to satisfy the high-level human resources needed by the nation in Fisheries and Aquaculture with an orientation towards entrepreneurship skills and self-employment.
• Produce graduates with sufficient theoretical and technical knowledge in all aspects of Fisheries and Aquaculture and possess abilities to apply the analytical tools, knowledge and skills acquired to solve societies’ economic problems.
• Produce graduates who are well-equipped with up-to-date techniques in fisheries necessary for sustainable fish production who will be able to perform satisfactorily in any of the following institutions: River Basin Authorities, Federal and State Ministries of Agriculture, industrial fish farms, fish farms and developmental agencies, among others.
• Produce graduates prepared for postgraduate studies in all areas of specialisation in Fisheries and Aquaculture across the globe.

Admission and Graduation Requirements

Admission: Into the degree programme

May be obtained through the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) or Direct entry. 

A candidate who seeks admission through the UTME should possess five credit passes in the Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (SSCE), including English Language, Mathematics, Biology or Agricultural Science, Chemistry, and Physics, in at least two sittings, in addition to a determined minimum score the UTME.  

Direct entry mode

In addition to possessing the required O/L to entry qualifications, the direct entry candidate must have at least two credit passes at the advanced level or equivalents in Chemistry, Biology or agriculture. Diploma Holders in Fisheries and Aquaculture who passed with a minimum of Lower Credit and meet the minimum O/L admission requirements may be considered for the 200 level.

Graduation requirements

A student must have satisfied the following

Conditions to be considered for graduation: a minimum credit unit of 150 for students admitted through the UTME and 120 for direct entry; passed all core and required courses as indicated in the CCMAS; and must have spent a minimum of five academic sessions in the Department.

B.     Postgraduate Diploma

The postgraduate Diploma in Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Department is a year programme designed to bridge the gap between National Diploma (ND) and Higher National Diploma (HND) graduates who seek to pursue higher academic degrees and those who obtained third class in the first-degree programme of this or any other recognised University.

C. Master of Science (MSc) in Fisheries and Aquaculture

The Department’s MSc programme offers specialisations in water quality management and aquatic toxicology, fish breeding and genetics, fish nutrition, and fish biology. MSC. Candidates must be graduates of this University or any other recognised University. They must have passed with a minimum of Second Class Lower Division. Postgraduate Diploma candidates should have a minimum GPA of 3.5. The duration of the programme is two years.

D. PhD. in Fisheries and Aquaculture

The PhD programme in fisheries and aquaculture offers specialisation in areas similar to the MSc programme.