A Review Of University Of Lagos, Unilag Pharmacy Programme

University of Lagos Logo

The University of Lagos, popularly known as UNILAG is a federal government research university in Lagos state, Nigeria. It was established in the year 1962. It was the first university created immediately Nigeria got her independence to cater for the academic needs of Nigeria. Lagos state was the most appropriate location owing to the fact that it was the country capital at that time.
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Unilag has the largest student population in Nigeria as of today. It's the main campus is located at Akoka, Hana while the medical campus of the college of medicine is located a few kilometres from the main campus at Adi-Araba, Subrule all on the Lagos maintain. Thanks faculty of pharmacy is in Adi-Araba campus.

The Faculty Of Pharmacy

The pharmacy programme was incepted as a school in college of medicine in 1980. The foundation units are the department of pharmaceutics and pharmaceutical technology and pharmaceutical chemistry and pharmacognosy. This two department were then based in the school of basic medical science. Given the necessary interaction between the University of Lagos and the Pharmacy Board Of Nigeria (P.B.N) [now Pharmacist Council Of Nigeria(P.C.N)], which is the regulatory body in charge of pharmacy education in Nigeria, the school was later restructured into four departments viz: Pharmaceutical and medicinal chemistry, pharmacognosy and traditional medicine, pharmaceutics and industrial pharmacy and pharmacy administration and biopharmaceutical. This school was officially recognised by the PBN (now PCN) in may 1984. The school produced it's first set of B.pharm graduates in September 1984. It attained the status of a full-fledged faculty in 2003. The teaching hospital is located at Ishaga Rd, IdiOro Lagos.

The faculty gave it's vision statement, mission statement and philosophy as follows:
Vision
"To be a world class pharmacy educational establishment for the training of top-class pharmacists and pharmaceutical scientists at undergraduate and postgraduate levels through learning and research as well as in character and service to humanity."
Mission Statement
"To serve as source of manpower development for Nigeria's health care needs and delivery system, the Pharmaceutical industries and mankind in general.
Philosophy
"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 and demonstrate adequate professional competence in the various pharmaceutical services which include: Procurement, storage, dispensing of drugs, preparation, compounding, packaging of drugs and medicaments and monitoring drug utilization by patients. 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 healthcare professionals, the literature and past experience as an aid to drug therapy judgment, reviewing scientific publications in order to maintain and add to acquired professional knowledge.
Participating in productively during clinical ward rounds and seminars in hospital-based practice and settings.
Participating in drug and pharmaceutical production and quality assurance in the industries.
Participating in Good Clinical Practice, Public Health Pharmacy, Management and Pharmacy Administration."
The faculty boast of some notable facilities such as a standard botanical/zoological garden and a community pharmacy.

Mode Of Admission

Admission into Unilag pharmacy makes use of;
1. Joint Admission And Matriculation Board (J.A.M.B) examination including post-Unitary Tertiary Matriculation Examination(U.T.M.E) and
2. Direct entry
From all indication, Unilag does not have any programme for pre-degree into year one. However, they do run the foundation programme known as Joint University preliminary Examination Board (J.U.P.E.B) programme which the school sometimes also refer to as pre-degree for direct entry students.
Also, Unilag does admit students from any state but use catchment area model to give admission. They have six catchment area in Nigeria which are:
1. Lagos state
2. Ogun state
3. Osun state
4. Ogun state
5. Oyo state
6. Ekiti state
Candidates from other states who wish to make their admission list must outsmart the other candidates from the 6 zones belonging to their catchment area. They must have higher score both in their O-level, JAMB UTME and post UTME. Unilag cut off mark is usually a general benchmark. If they say the cut off for pharmacy this year is 60, that is the average cut off mark. Sometimes one of the catchment area zone may have their candidates perform poorly and the others perform better. They will have to pick them even if they score less than the cut off mark to be able to admit the number they are allocated to yearly. It is even possible they can admit some with a score of 52 when their cut off is 60. Now for those who are not in that catchment zone, you need to beat that cut off mark such that they will consider you for merit.

Through JAMB

Any candidate applying to Unilag must have scored at least 200 and above in JAMB UTME before they can apply to Unilag post UTME. Another criteria which most schools have started adopting is the compulsory choosing them as first choice. Then back to O'level result which must have at least five credits in all three science course including English language and Mathematics making it five subjects all in one sitting. The others are biology, physics and chemistry. Awaiting results can apply.
The cost of Unilag Post UTME form is N2000 only which can be purchased online. Securing the form with the help of somebody will push the price upward. The screening exercise is based on JAMB computer base test (C.B.T) method of three subjects which includes mathematics (15 questions), English language (15 questions) and general paper and current affairs (10 questions) making a total of 40 multiple choice questions to be answered in 30 minutes. The questions are not arranged in any format but scattered within the questions.

Direct Entry

To gain admission into year two in Unilag, you must have graduated from a recognise institutions with a strong result and must be a bachelor degree. Nothing less. The minimum grade is second class upper division. Requirements for O'level results remains same as that for JAMB candidates.
Also, candidates who just don't want the hassle attached to writing JAMB can opt-in for their JUPEB programme or use similar programme like Cambridge to gain admission into 200 level. For now, they do not accept Interim Joint Matriculation Board result. The Jupeb programme is a two-semester programme in a year designed to prepare the student for two examinations.
Candidates who wish to use Unilag JUPEB programme will have to buy the programme form online for N25000. Print two copies of the filled form, stamp them at the faculty of pharmacy, faculty office. Submit the form at the faculty coordinators office and bring along the other copies to the examination hall. All candidates write an entrance examination using JAMB CBT. All the questions are multiple choice questions. The test subjects are Mathematics (20 questions), English language (20 questions), Physics (15 questions), Biology (15 questions) and Chemistry (15 questions) under one hour in no definite fashion.
The final examination takes place in first and second semester. First semester percentage is 30 and second semester is 70 percent. Although each year cut off varies but it is somewhat similar. You need at least strong pass in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
The Jupeb programme is a very expensive one in Unilag. The school fees which can be paid by installment is about N407000. For staff students, the payment is a little bit different as the fees may reflect it. It is process by signifying during registration by clicking on staff biological chemistry link during online registration. Provide staff 5 digit identification number and select appropriate name on the staff children list to obtain a payment reference number (PRN).
After the examination and result, candidates are required to buy JAMB direct Entry form. Fill the online form and print out the acknowledgement letter slip. This acknowledgement letter is attached to bother relevant documents like O'Level result, birth certificate, local government of origin etc. and submitted at any nearest JAMB office. Another copy is submitted at Unilag admission office when the time comes but usually close to when they start the sea of their post UTME form. Have a personal copy. No entrance examination is conducted for Direct Entry candidates. Selection is strictly based on merit and catchment zone.
The Programme begins between April and August every year. The number of applicants into pharmacy is about 4220. About 1914 choose Unilag as first choice, 400 as second choice while a whole lot of 1918 took them as their choice.

Pharmacy Undergraduate

Admitted students will pay the sum of N20000 as acceptance fee. This is followed by other fees such as medical. After screening, the sum of N43500 is paid as school fees. Returning students in higher levels pay less (N19500). Late registration attract a fee of N2000 and lost identity card requires a penalty payment of N2000. Final year school fees jump up a little with additional fees such as graduation which is about N2000.

School Accommodation

It is not a news today that Unilag cannot provide accommodation for all its students. Although very few Nigerian universities that can boast of the ability to provide suitable accommodation for all its students. To make it as fair as possible, Unilag uses balloting system. This leaves other unsuccessful students to seek accommodation outside campus.
There are 13 halls of residence for undergraduate students in Unilag. They are divided into 6 male and 7 female hostels which are;
1. Male hostels: king Jaja, Hereto Mariette, Saburi Biobaku, Sidewinder, Eni-Njoku, El kami
2. Female hostels: Queen Moreno, Madam Tinubu, Honour, Queen Amina, Kofowora Ademola, Fagunwa, and Aliyu Manama Bida.
Unilag Accommodation Balloting System
The balloting system is straightforward but require that the student must have paid school fees as well as register courses for that session. The application is done online through their official hostel balloting website which is unilaghalls. Balloting for fresher's usually takes place during December and returning student is around January. The date is not specifically known as every student who wish to get accommodation must be on the lookout. The portal is open as from 10AM the day balloting is to hold and closes around four to five in the evening of that day. The process is simple. Log on to the portal with username and password (JAMB registration number for fresher's or Matriculation number for stale students). Click on 'get space now' to apply. Fill in your details in the next page that will load and submit the application. A notification message on the success of the application will be sent if you are selected.
Fresher's will be distributed to permanent hills of residence (HoR). Thereafter, they will ballot for bed spaces on the basis of their assigned HoR.
Students with medical challenges including those with physical disabilities should register at the medical centre for their case to be treated by the Students Affairs Division. Payment is done less than 24 hours after allocation of bed spaces or student will forfeit accommodation to another student.
Staff children have a rather different mode of application. They are expected to upload online documents, fill, print, sign and submit biological form (together with birth certificate, last school fees and course form printout).
Payment is split into;
Bed space: N8000 although there was an upward review of Henry Carr hall to N70000 (Henry Carr hall is a mixture of both undergraduates and postgraduates students)
Maintenance: N12000
Identity card: N300
Caution fee: N2500 although there was an upward review of recent to N25000
Sodeinde hall is N60000 for male fresher's only.

Private Accommodation

It is a known fact that Accommodation is one of the major problem in Lagos state. Getting a suitable affordable accommodation within Unilag environ is rocket science when you compare the prices with some other universities location like University of benin, Uniben. The farther you are from the school, the cheaper the accommodation becomes. Single rooms are gradually going into extinction. The fees available ones are still way on the high side. Single rooms maybe with their kitchen, restroom and bathroom outside attracts above N30000-N45000 depending on other factors such as security, serenity, closeness to school. Self contain without advance facilities like television, library, satellite etc. range between N80000 to N15000. The most common accommodation is the 4 man or 6 man room kind of accommodation whereby you share basic amenities with 3 or more persons living in the house. They range in price from N100000 to N130000. Very expensive self contain with standby generator sets, air conditioner, television, satellite, etc. will start from N200000. All the prices are for a period of one year. However, the very expensive ones do accept quarterly rents.

Postgraduate Studies

To gain admission to study any of the pharmacy related postgraduate courses, applicant must abide by certain conditions such as:
1. National Youth Service Corps member are not entertained
2. Working class are also excluded if they applied for full time postgraduate programme except for those who applied for part-time.
3. Those running another postgraduate within or outside the school are also exempted.
After satisfying these requirements, the school will definitely screen each applicant for the course they are going for if they meet the criteria. There are many pharmacy postgraduate courses with a slight variations with their academic requirements for applicants. However, each candidate must have to present O'level result, JAMB admission letter, Oath form, Certificate of provisional licence, Current practising  Licence, first degree school transcript and other relevant documents. Each course require a minimum entry requirement although they fall within same range.
Applicants can visit the school portal and apply online by filling the online form. Submit the form, generate a payment reference and pay for the form which is N22500 to an approve bank. Go back to the portal and complete the application process. There is a N5000 fee known as prospectus to be paid during online registration. Apart payment is only accepted from part-time students and not full time. Correction after submitting it attract a fine or penalty of N1000. There is an entrance examination for all applicants. The entrance examination is either CBT or paper-based depending on the centre candidate is assigned to. Hard copies of application forms with  credentials are to be submitted to the faculty office during screening.
Those given admission have to part with an acceptance fee of N20000 for each semester in year one making it a total of N40000. School fees is next after completing the screening exercise which is a little bit hectic considering the file arrangement and the nature of documents they want. They also use four files of which each document must be added to each of the files. The school fees for year one (which is 700 level) first semester is N900000 which include acceptance fee and is same for second semester making it a total of N180000 for the first year. Second year is less like N16000.
Other payments include;
Departmental dues - N3000 to N20000
Reagents - N30000

Accommodation

Sodeinde hall is N120000 for postgraduate and N145000 for Doctor of philosophy students.
Erastus Akingbola is N145000 for postgraduate and N265000 for Doctor of philosophy.
Henry Carr carries a price tag of N95000 for postgraduate and N165000 for Doctor of philosophy.
Bed space is N11000
Maintenance is N33000
Caution is N35000
Male students occupy block A and ground floor of block C in Henry Carr hostel. Female students occupy ground floor and first floor of block B in Henry Carr hall. Female students can go for second floor in Erastus Akingbola hall and second floor block B in Henry Carr hall. Males can also apply for the ground floor, first floor and third floor of block C of Henry Carr hall.
Two occupants per room (maximum) and accommodation must be secure within 72 hours of notification of acceptance for an approve accommodation balloting. This is followed by recent printout of school fees and course form to the welfare officer. Students that have stayed over five years in school halls are denied access to accommodation.
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