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INTRODUCTION
In 1993, the convention on Biological Diversity came into force as a legally-binding international agreement governing the conservation, exchange and use of biological resources. This was based on the
premise that rational management of the biodiversity resources in the world is basic to the economic and cultural well-being of people. Biological diversity for the purpose of the convention is regarded as the variability among living organisms from all sources including, inter alia terrestrial, marine and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, between species and of ecosystems.
Nigeria is a signatory to the Biological Diversity Convention, and it is now generally acknowledged that there is a necessity to conserve biological diversity and integrate it with national development. However, the implementation of this lofty ideal remains ineffective as the requisite knowledge base is lacking. A perusal of the publication giving an overview of the status of biological diversity in Nigeria by the Federal Environmental Protection Agency (FEPA) in 1992 underscores the sorry state of the knowledge base on biodiversity in the country. Most plant and animal groups are simply unknown or poorly known. Sound development planning requires comprehensive information on the local biodiversity resources if catastrophic over-exploitation and/or degradation of life-support processes were to be avoided. This calls for detailed biosystematic studies of various plant and animal groups in Nigeria, as well as a sustained programme of capacity-strengthening. The issue of capacity-strengthening is especially crucial since there is a dearth of specialists in systematics biology in Nigeria and other African countries.
Currently at the Obafemi Awolowo University, some Biosystematic works are being carried out in the Department of Plant Science, Department of Botany, Department of Zoology, Department of Geology and the Natural History Museum. All these are however generally fragmentary and would need to be integrated and augmented to give a greater impact. It is therefore proposed to start a Postgraduate Programme in Biosystematics that would draw on the expertise currently available in the University, and supplement as necessary with expertise from some collaborating overseas institutions.
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Postgraduate Programme in Biosystematics shall be to provide academic, research, and practical training in biodiversity that will lead to the development of a pool of taxonomic specialists and parataxonomists for biological inventory in pest management, environmental protection and conservation, especially in Nigeria and other African countries.
TYPES OF PROGRAMMES
1. Postgraduate Diploma which will last one calender year (i.e. 12 months or 2 semesters plus one long
vacation). It will involve largely course work plus a long essay. It is designed to train parataxonomists who will be responsible primarily for identification and curation of specimens.
2. M.Sc. degree which will start for two academic sessions. Apart from course work, it will involve the
submission of a thesis on an original research topic. It is designed to train research taxonomists who
apart from collection management, will be capable of conducting original taxonomic research in a chosen group of plants or animals.
3. Ph.D degree which will be for candidates who already possess the M.Sc. degree in Plant or Animal
Biosystematics or their equivalents. It will last for at least two academic sessions and will involve the submission of a thesis based on an original research topic. It is designed to train research taxonomists.
AREAS OF SPECIALIZATION
The areas of specialisation to be covered in each programme is as follows:
1. P.G. Dipl./M.Sc./Ph.D Biosystematics (Plants)
Fungi, Bryophyta, Pteridophyta, Monocotyledons, Dicotyledons.
2. P.G. Dipl./M.Sc./ Ph.D. Biosystematics (Insects)
All orders of Insecta especially Thysanoptera, Homoptera, Hemiptera, Coleoptera, Hymenoptera, Lepidoptera and
Diptera.
3. P.G. Dipl./M.Sc./Ph.D Biosystematics (Invertebrates)
Crustacea, Annelida, Mollusca, Diplopoda, Chilopoda, Araneida, Acari,
Nematoda.
4. P.G. Dipl./M.Sc./Ph.D. Biosystematics (Vertebrates)
Pisces, Amphibia, Aves, Reptilia, Mammalia.
P.G. Diploma
Candidates shall possess a Bachelors degree in Biology, Botany, Zoology or Agriculture from a recognised University, and the degree shall normally not be below a Third Class.
M.Sc.
Candidates shall possess at least a Second Class Lower Honours degree in Biology, Botany, Zoology or Agriculture from a recognised University. Candidates with lower degree qualification who have taken the P.G. Diploma in Biosystematics or its equivalent also qualify for admission.
Ph.D
Candidates must have obtained the M.Sc. degree in Biosystematics or its equivalent and would be expected to have attained a minimum of (B+) average in the coursework for the M.Sc. In exceptional cases, candidates with less than 60% average in the coursework may be considered for admission subject to the Postgraduate College regulations in that respect.
Background
Candidates are expected to have had a good exposure at the undergraduate level in the form and function of living organisms, a general overview of the plant and animal kingdom, elements of Ecology, Genetics, general physiology of plants and animals, statistics and biochemistry. Candidates whose transcripts show a deficiency in any of these areas, may be required to take remedial courses if offered admission.
Coursework
For the Postgraduate Diploma programmes, candidates will be expected to complete at least 24 units which shall include NHM.601, NHM.603, and one other core course and one unit of seminar, 12 of the remaining units shall be taken from the electives for the candidates area of specialization while3 units shall be for the long essay.
For the M.Sc. programme, candidates will be expected to complete 13 units of core-courses to include NHM.603 and 2 units of seminar. They will also be expected to complete at least 12 units of electives in their area of specialization plus 6 units of research.
For the Ph.D. programme, candidates will be expected to complete, in addition to the core courses taken for the M.Sc. , at least 6 units of core courses and two units of seminar. They will be also expected to complete at least six units of electives in their areas of specialization plus six units of research.
Supervisory Committee
An advisory committee of three members in the case of M.Sc. and Ph.D degree candidates shall be constituted to assist in planning each student's programme. The committee shall be headed by the candidate's Supervisor and shall include as far as possible members from other areas of specialization in the Postgraduate programme in Biosystematics.
Examinations and Thesis
All courses and theses submitted shall be examined subject to the prevailing Postgraduate College regulations. Additional regulations may also be prescribed specifically for the Postgraduate programme in Biosystematics in respect of seminars and thesis proposals.
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