From Metallurgical & Materials Engineering (1978) to Materials Science & Engineering (2003) — over four decades of excellence, innovation and national service.
The Department of Materials Science and Engineering (formerly Metallurgical and Materials Engineering) was established in March 1978 in the Faculty of Technology, providing Nigeria's first training facility for skilled manpower in the rapidly expanding Metallurgical and Materials Engineering field.
At the time, the country's focus was on metallurgical processes for the production of primary metals — particularly iron and steel. Prior to the department's creation, a degree programme in this discipline had been offered as an option within the Department of Chemical Engineering.
The department began with two broad-based sub-sections — metallurgical and minerals engineering — strategically planned to support Nigeria's emerging iron and steel, aluminium, tin, mining, processing and development sectors.
The department was planned with great thought and foresight. Though formally established in 1978, systematic recruitment and development of facilities actually began in 1969, when Prof. Afonja was employed into the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science. He later moved to the Department of Chemical Engineering upon its creation in 1970, laying the groundwork for what would become the Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering.
The department commenced operations with three pioneering teaching staff — all redeployed from Chemical Engineering in March 1979: Dr. A. A. Afonja, Dr. A. Ogunleye, and Dr. S. A. Adelakun.
Key events that shaped the department into the centre of excellence it is today.
Late Prof. Adeniyi Ademola Afonja was employed into the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science at OAU. He began the systematic recruitment and development of laboratory facilities that would eventually establish a dedicated materials engineering department — a full nine years before the department officially opened.
Prof. Afonja moved to the newly created Department of Chemical Engineering, continuing to build the teaching staff and research infrastructure that would underpin the future metallurgy department. Teaching and research in Materials Science and Engineering grew steadily in both quality and quantity from this period.
The Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering was officially established in March 1978 within the Faculty of Technology — Nigeria's first dedicated training facility for skilled manpower in the field. The department was designed with two broad-based sub-sections of metallurgical and minerals engineering, strategically positioned to support Nigeria's iron and steel, aluminium, tin mining, and processing sectors.
Three pioneering academics — Dr. A. A. Afonja, Dr. A. Ogunleye, and Dr. S. A. Adelakun — were redeployed from the Chemical Engineering Department in March 1979, becoming the department's founding teaching staff. Students at inception numbered fewer than ten, and the department began its core training in ferrous and non-ferrous metallurgy.
Staff engaged in consultancy on major national iron and steel projects, including the Delta Steel Company (Aladja), Ajaokuta Steel Company, iron ore beneficiation and coke plants at Itakpe and Enugu, a number of inland rolling mills, the Aluminium Smelting Plant at Ikot Abasi, and the Amalgamated Tin Mining Companies in Jos — playing a leading national role in materials engineering practice.
Not long after establishment, the department started postgraduate programmes to produce the skilled manpower needed by other departments of its type and for research and development in industries. The first six M.Sc. students were admitted in 1984 — a landmark step in the department's evolution into a full centre of learning and research.
A significant milestone — the department awarded its first PhD degree in 1994, cementing its status as a postgraduate research institution. Today the department has produced numerous M.Sc. and PhD holders who are actively contributing to academia, industry and public service across Nigeria and beyond.
Materials Science and Engineering had evolved considerably over three hundred years, with exciting developments leading to the decline of metals' dominance. In response to these global shifts and the department's broadened research scope — now encompassing polymers, ceramics, composites, nanomaterials and biomaterials — the department formally proposed a name change to the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
The University Senate approved the name change, with effect from 2003. From the 2003/2004 academic session, degrees offered were in Materials Engineering. The new honours degree programme was drawn up in line with both NUC and COREN minimum standards, informed by the need to develop a research and development culture consonant with current trends in materials science, industry and public service — with direct relevance to the peculiar needs of Nigeria and the developing world.
Decades of meaningful contributions to Nigeria's industrial, academic and research landscape.
From its earliest days, the department supported Nigeria's industrial ambitions — providing consultancy and trained manpower for the Delta Steel Company (Aladja), Ajaokuta Steel Company, iron ore beneficiation plants at Itakpe and Enugu, the Aluminium Smelting Plant at Ikot Abasi, and the Amalgamated Tin Mining Companies in Jos.
Starting with fewer than ten students and three teaching staff, the department has grown to hundreds of students on roll and a robust academic team. Graduates can now be found in almost all facets of the metallurgical and materials industry across Nigeria.
Staff are engaged in the evaluation of local raw materials and research on coal, iron ore, limestone, tin ore, polymers, ceramics, composites, nanomaterials and biomaterials. Notable achievements have been made in these directions, addressing Nigeria's specific industrial and developmental challenges.
From the first M.Sc. cohort in 1984 to the first PhD in 1994, the department has produced numerous postgraduate degree holders who contribute to academia, research institutions, state and national-level materials and metallurgical industry development.
Join a department with a proud history and an exciting future in materials science and engineering.
