Postgraduate School
Doctor of Philosophy in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry
Ph.D. Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry
| Name | Status & Qualifications | Research Interest |
| N. S. Njinga | Senior Lecturer & Ag. Head of Dept. B.Sc. (Buea); M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria) | Natural Product Chemistry, Organic Synthesis |
| Moji T. Bakare-Odunola | Professor B.Sc. (Maiduguri); M.Sc., Ph.D. (ABU, Zaria) | Pharmaceutical Analysis/Medicinal Chemistry |
| S. T. Abdullahi | Reader B.Pharm., M.Sc. (ABU, Zaria); Ph.D. (OAU, Ile-Ife) | Pharmaceutical Analysis, Pharmacokinetics |
| I. O. Eniayewu | Lecturer I B.Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (OAU, Ile-Ife) | Pharmaceutical Analysis/Medicinal Chemistry |
| *O. O. Dosumu | Professor B.Sc., M.Sc. (Ilorin); Ph.D. (Ibadan) | Natural Product Chemistry |
| *L. A. Usman | Professor B.Sc. (Ed), M.Sc. (Ilorin); Ph.D. (LAUTECH, Ogbomosho) | Natural Product Chemistry |
| *Modinah O. Abdulraheem | Reader B.Sc., M.Sc., PGDE (Ibadan); Ph.D. (Ilorin) | Analytical Chemistry |
| *O. Atolani | Senior Lecturer B. Sc., M.Sc., Ph.D. (Ilorin) | Medicinal Chemistry, Organic Synthesis |
| *Lecturers from other Departments | ||
B. Introduction
The Master/Doctor of Philosophy M.Phil./Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry) is designed to develop a well-trained and skilled personnel for high class manpower for academics and industries in processing of drugs from natural sources, the synthesis of novel bioactive compounds and the development of analytical protocols for pharmaceutical quality control.
C. Philosophy
Provision of opportunities for advanced learning and knowledge in drug discovery and development. Graduates of the programme will provide the high-class manpower required in pharmaceutical services for academic institutions, research institutes, pharmaceutical industries, regulatory agencies and other receptors in the health-care delivery system.
D. Aim and Objectives
The aim of the programme is to train students with advanced knowledge and skills to meet the ever-increasing challenges in global pharmaceutical practice.
The objectives are to:
E. Admission Requirements
Candidates for admission to the Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry) programme must fulfil the following requirements:
F. Duration of the Programme
Duration for M.Phil. (Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry) full time degree programme shall be for a minimum of 12 calendar months. A student is expected to convert to Ph.D. programme.
Ph.D. (Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry) full-time programme shall last for a minimum of 36 calendar months and maximum of 60 calendar months. For those who would be opting for part-time programme, a minimum of 48 calendar months and maximum of 72 calendar months would be required for completing the programme.
For extension beyond the specified maximum period, a special permission of the postgraduate school shall be required on the recommendation of the Department.
G. Detailed Course Description
PCH 901 Advanced Medicinal Chemistry 2 Credits
Physicochemical properties influencing reactivity and biological activity of drugs. Synthesis and structure-activity relationship, metabolism, uses and mechanism of action of some selected pharmacodynamic and chemotherapeutic agents. Pro-drugs and uses of leads. Physicochemical parameters. Stereochemistry and biologic activity. Quantitative structure- activity relationship and recent advances in drug design. Group moiety, bio functional moiety approach, drug receptor interaction and integral approach. 30h (T); C
PCH 902 Chemistry of Heterocyclic Compounds 2 Credits Biosynthesis, isolation and characterisation reactions, medicinal and pharmaceutical uses of the following compounds: Carbohydrates, Terpenes and Terpenoids, Alkaloids, Steroids, Flavonoids and Bioflavonoids, Anthocyanins, Coumarins, Prostaglandins, Prostacyclin, Thromboxane, Vitamins. 30h (T); C
PCH 903 Instrumental Methods for Structure Elucidation 2 Credits
Advanced Spectroscopy. Optical Rotation Dispersion (ORD) and Circular Dichroism(CD). Electrochemical methods. Titrimetric methods. Thermodynamics and thermo-chemical methods. Separation Methods. 30h (T); C
PCH 904 Pharmaceutical Analysis and Quality Control 2 Credits
Advanced Instrumental methods. Quality control. Quality standards in the official compendia (BP, BPC, USP, IP, European Pharmacopoeia, National Formulary, African Pharmacopoeia). Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP). Application of reaction kinetics to quality control of drugs and stability studies. Bioassay 30h (T); C
PCH 905 Advanced Organic Chemistry 2 Credits
Advanced reaction mechanisms of nucleophilic and electrophilic substitution reactions and factors affecting them. Elimination reaction mechanisms and factors affecting them. Organo-metallic compounds – preparation, reactions and uses. Synthetic Uses of Free Radicals, Main types of radical reactions. New reduction-oxidation methods. Electrochemical oxidation reduction reactions. Photochemical reactions. Organic peroxides. Recent Advances in Reaction Mechanisms. Recent Advances in Heterocyclic Chemistry. Halogenation, alkylation, acetylation and condensation reactions. Industrial Pharmaceutical Chemistry. Advanced inorganic Pharmaceutical Chemistry. 30h (T); C
PCH 906 Advanced Drug Metabolism and Pharmacokinetics 2 Credits
Recent advances in drug metabolism. Metabolite Kinetics. Dosage Regimen Design and Pharmacokinetics. Non-linear Pharmacokinetics. Non- Compartment Analysis. Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics. Application of Pharmacokinetics to Clinical situation. Pharmacogenetics/Pharmacogenomics 30h (T); C
PCH 907 Seminar 2 Credits
All graduate students are required to attend the weekly departmental seminar. Seminars consist of presentations by guest speakers, faculty members, and students. Typically, graduate students are required to present at least three departmental seminars during their time on the programme. The seminar may be based on progress achieved in their research or on a literature review of work related to their research. 90h (P); C
PCH 999 Dissertation 12 Credits
Research work in relevant area of specialization. The research must be original and geared towards new frontiers of knowledge. Each student would be supervised by 2 or 3 supervisors with at least one of them based in the Department. The topic and its protocol which shall be approved by the Postgraduate school on the recommendation of the department through the faculty must make original contribution in the area of specialisation to knowledge. 540h (P); C
H. Graduation Requirements
To be awarded the Ph.D. degree in Pharmaceutical and Medicinal Chemistry, candidate must have registered and passed all core courses in addition to two electives courses. Additionally, a thesis, adjudged for its originality and substantial contribution to knowledge, and defended before Postgraduate School approved External Examiner must be submitted by the candidate. A minimum of 30 credits and maximum of 32 credits (including electives) are required for graduation made up of the followings:
Core courses 14 Credits
Elective courses 6 Credits
Dissertation 12 Credits
Total 32 Credits
I. Summary
Core courses: PCH 901 (2), PCH 902 (2), PCH 903 (2), PCH 904 (2), PCH 905 (2), PCH
906 (2), PCH 907 (2), PCH 999 (12)
Elective courses: PCL 907 (2), PCP 951 (4), PMB 907 (2)
© 2025 University of Ilorin