About Us

History

The Department of Epidemiology and Community Health is one of the founding departments of the Faculty of Health Sciences at the University of Ilorin, established in 1978. It played a crucial role in launching the MBBS programme within the then Faculty of Health Sciences, which later became the College of Health Sciences in 2004.

Among its notable founding members was the late Professor Kamilu Alausa, who served as the Head of Department (HOD) and later as Dean of the Faculty. He also held key leadership positions, including Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) and Chief Medical Director at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital. Another founding member, the late Professor Oladapo Adekolu-John, served as HOD before becoming Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC) at the same institution. The late Professor Ibukun-Olu Alade, a nutritionist, along with the late Mr. K. Omonisi and Professor Bode Kayode, were among the department’s early academic staff who contributed significantly to its development.

Since its inception, the department has been led by distinguished professionals. The first Head of Department was Professor O.O.K. Alausa (1979–1984). Over the years, several eminent scholars have served in this capacity, some on multiple occasions, including Professor D.B. Parakoyi, Professor E.O. Adekolu-John, Professor Gbolahan Oni, Professor A.O. Awoyemi, Professor Margaret Olabisi Araoye, Professor T.M. Akande, Professor G.K. Osagbemi, Professor O.I. Musa, Professor A.G. Salaudeen and Professor I.S. Abdulraheem. The department is currently headed by Prof. M. M. B. Uthman (2025-Till date).

The department remained at the University of Ilorin’s temporary site for 32 years before relocating to its current location in 2010. It offers both undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate (MPH & PhD in Public Health) programmes and serves as an accredited training center for the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria and the West African College of Physicians in Public Health. Additionally, it is among the training centers for the MD programme of the National Postgraduate Medical College of Nigeria.

The department is actively involved in community service through rural and urban health programmes for undergraduate and postgraduate students under the supervision of medical consultants. It has managed the staff clinic at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) since its inception and later co-managed the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) clinic with the Department of Family Medicine.

The department’s research activities span various areas of Community Medicine and Public Health, including epidemiology, biostatistics, environmental health, occupational health, health planning and administration, public health nutrition, health policy and management, disease surveillance, and geriatric care.

Over the years, the department has successfully trained numerous medical students and resident doctors who have gone on to become consultants, lecturers, and professors, with some being retained as faculty members. Many graduates have held prestigious roles, including Chairman of the Medical Advisory Committee (CMAC), Deputy CMAC, Directors, and International Consultants. The current HOD is Professor M. M. B. Uthman, an alumnus of the University of Ilorin, widely regarded as “the Better by Far University” in Nigeria.