Student Handbook
Student Handbook
Student Handbook
STUDENTS’ HANDBOOK
FOR
B.Sc. MATHEMATICS & B.Sc. STATISTICS PROGRAMS
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Table of Contents
Contents
Title Page .......................................................................................................................................................................... 1
Table of Contents .............................................................................................................................................................. 2
The University Crest ......................................................................................................................................................... 3
Philosophy and Cardinal Principles of the University ...................................................................................................... 5
Brief history of the Department ........................................................................................................................................ 5
B.Sc. Mathematics ............................................................................................................................................................ 6
Philosophy of the Programme ....................................................................................................................................... 6
Objectives of the Programme ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Admission Requirements: ............................................................................................................................................. 7
List of Courses .................................................................................................................................................................. 8
Level I Courses ............................................................................................................................................................. 8
Level II Courses ............................................................................................................................................................ 8
Level III Courses........................................................................................................................................................... 9
Level IV Courses .......................................................................................................................................................... 9
The Syllabi .................................................................................................................................................................. 10
Level I Courses ........................................................................................................................................................... 10
Level II Courses .......................................................................................................................................................... 10
Level III Courses......................................................................................................................................................... 12
Level IV Courses ........................................................................................................................................................ 14
Career for Mathematics Graduates ............................................................................................................................ 16
B.Sc. Statistics ................................................................................................................................................................ 18
Philosophy of the Programme ..................................................................................................................................... 18
Aim ............................................................................................................................................................................. 18
Objectives of the Programme ...................................................................................................................................... 18
Admission Requirements ............................................................................................................................................ 18
Regulations: ................................................................................................................................................................ 19
List of Courses ............................................................................................................................................................ 20
The Syllabi .................................................................................................................................................................. 21
Examinations and Assessments .................................................................................................................................. 27
Grading system ........................................................................................................................................................... 27
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Appendices ...................................................................................................................................................................... 29
Appendix A1: List of Staff (Last Update: October 2019) ............................................................................................. 29
A: Teaching Staff ........................................................................................................................................................ 29
B: Non-Teaching Staff ................................................................................................................................................ 29
Appendix A2: Departmental Responsibilities (2018/2019 Session) ........................................................................... 30
Appendix A3: Departmental Committees ................................................................................................................... 30
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The University Crest
(Guiding Light) “… But over all endowed with knowledge is one, the All-knowing”
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Philosophy and Cardinal Principles of the University
Abdullahi Bayero College was reconstituted into University College with effect from October 1st, 1975 and
into Bayero University in October 1977.
The Academic Development Committee outlined a philosophy consistent with traditions and character,
which the College acquired during its years of existence. Briefly, it is that the University is to pay due
respect to human values. It is to:
“be built on those beliefs, values and tradition that the society holds most sacred. The University should
strive to be symbol of the spirit of its community, the guardian of its moral, the formulator of its hopes, be
they spiritual or material. It should monitor the inevitable changes that come with time and, in assimilating
these essential values and nuances, the University recognizes the need to:
In pursuing its aims and objectives, the University will be constantly guided by the requirements of the
national plans, manpower needs and sheer physical and environmental factors.
The Department had been running two (2) undergraduate programmes; B.Sc Mathematics and B.Sc.
Computer Science and three (3) postgraduate programmes; Postgraduate Diploma in Computer Science,
M.Sc. Mathematics and Ph.D. Mathematics. In addition, the department serves other departments/faculties
in the University. With the establishment of new faculty in the University, B.Sc. Computer Science was
moved to new Faculty of Computer Science and Information Technology in 2011/2012 session.
Currently, the Department is running two (2) undergraduate programmes; B.Sc. Mathematics and B.Sc.
Statistics; five (5) postgraduate programmes; postgraduate Diploma in Mathematics, M.Sc. Mathematics,
M.Sc. Applied Mathematics, M.Sc. Computational Mathematics and Ph.D. in Mathematics.
The Department had 4 teaching staff at inception but now has 33 including 6 females. At present the
Department has 197 undergraduate and 114 postgraduate students and is headed by Dr. Abbas Jaafar
Badakay.
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PART A
B.Sc. Mathematics
Philosophy of the Programme
Considering;
▪ The relevance of Mathematics in providing a solid base upon which scientific knowledge is built;
▪ The importance of Mathematics in providing the necessary skills and training for the attainment of
societal development;
▪ Necessity to train Mathematicians with the attendant multiplier effects in the pursuance of
interdisciplinary studies/research;
1. Give high-level manpower training in the field of Mathematics with a view to producing the needed
human resources.
2. Produce highly skilled individuals who would be self-reliant and useful members of the society
3. Further popularize the importance of Mathematics knowledge and its relevance to personal/national
progress.
4. Prepare students intellectually to pursue research and graduate studies in all areas of Mathematics.
5. Identify, recruit and or attract the finest staff manpower to carry out its vital traditional functions of
teaching, research and community service.
6. To encourage the advancement of learning and to hold out all person without distinction of race,
creed, sex or political conviction, the opportunity of acquiring higher and liberal education.
7. To provide courses of instruction and other facilities for the pursuit of learning in all its campuses,
and to make those facilities available on proper terms to such persons as are equipped to benefit
from them.
8. To encourage, promote scholarship and conduct research in all field of learning and human
endeavour.
9. To relate the activities to the social and economic needs of the people of Nigeria.
10. To undertake any other activities appropriate for a University of the highest other.
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Admission Requirements:
A: Level I
Five passes at credit level three of which must be in Mathematics, Physics and English, and the remaining
from Biology/Agricultural Science, Chemistry, and Geography. In addition to obtaining a minimum score
required in the UTME.
B: Level II
Course Numbering
Each course offered in the Department of Mathematical Sciences is prefixed by one of the letter-groups
MTH or STA indicating that it is a Mathematics or Statistics, course respectively. This is followed by a
four-digit number. The first digit indicates the level to which the course belongs; the second digit indicates
the credit value of the course; while the last two digits are for identification purposes.
Course Assessment
Each course is assessed by continues assessment and an end-of-semester examination. The continues
assessment normally accounts for 30% to 40%, while end of semester examination accounts for 60% to 70%
of the overall marks for each course.
Regulations:
The concurrent General Regulations of the University and the Regulations of the Faculty of Physical
Science apply. In addition to such regulations, the following regulations also apply for the BSc Mathematics
Programme:
i. In addition to the compulsory Mathematics courses, every Level I Mathematics student must register
Physics courses and all level I courses from one of Biology or Chemistry.
ii. Every Level I student is to take the Level I General Studies courses: GSP 1201: Use of English and
GSP 1202: Use of Library, Study Skills and ICT offered by the School of General and
Entrepreneurship Studies, while Level II students are to take the Level II GSP courses open to
science students: GSP 2204: Foundation of Nigerian Culture, Government and Economy, GSP
2205: Philosophy and Logic and GSP 2206: Peace and Conflict Resolution. In addition, all Direct
Entry students should register GSP 2201: Use of English and GSP 1202 Use of Library, Study
Skills and ICT. Level IV students are to take: EEP3201: Entrepreneurship and Innovation and
EEP 4201: Venture Creation and Growth.
iii. Unless the contrary is stated, all Mathematics courses are core courses. All GSE courses are also
core courses.
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iv. The minimum duration of the programme is four (4) academic sessions for UTME students (three
(3) for DE students) and the maximum is six (6) academic sessions for UTME students (five (5)
for DE students). Where a student fails to satisfy the minimum graduation requirement after
exhausting the maximum time, he/she will be withdrawn from the programme.
v. To qualify for the award of BSc degree in Mathematics, a UTME student must pass all core courses
and obtain at least 34, 35, 30 and 33 credits each from Level I, II, III and IV courses respectively
(and 39, 30 and 33 credits each from Level II, III and IV courses respectively for DE students). This
is in addition to the normal University Requirement of obtaining a minimum of 30 credits per level.
List of Courses
Level I Courses
*Students are to take either the CHM option only or BIO option only.
Level II Courses
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3 MTH2203 LINEAR ALGEBRA I CORE
4 MTH2204 LINEAR ALGEBRA II CORE
5 MTH2306 INTRO. TO NUMER. ANALYSIS CORE
6 MTH2307 REAL ANALYSIS I CORE
7 MTH2208 VECTOR ANALYSIS CORE
8 MTH2310 INTRODUCTION TO MATHEMATICAL COMPUTING OPTIONAL
9 MTH2213 ELEMENTS OF SET THEORY CORE
10 MTH2214 LOGIC AND ALGEBRA CORE
11 STA2211 PROBABILITY II CORE
12 STA2212 PROBABILITY III CORE
13 CSC2320 PROGRAMMING IN C++ CORE
14 GSP2201 FUNDATION OF NIG. CULTURE, ECONOMY & GOVT. CORE
15 GSP2204 PEACE AND CONFLICTS STUDY CORE
16 GSP2205 PHILOSOPHY AND LOGIC CORE
Level IV Courses
Note: Students must register a minimum of 6 credit units from the optional courses.
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The Syllabi
Level I Courses
MTH 1301: Elementary Mathematics I (Sets, Algebra and Trigonometry) (3 Credit Units)
Pre-requisite: None
Core-requisite: MTH 1303
Elementary set theory; subsets, union, intersection, complements; Venn diagram; Real numbers, integers,
rational and irrational numbers, real sequences and series; theory of quadratic equations, polynomials, partial
fractions; binomial theorem; circular measure; trigonometric functions of angles of any magnitude,
trigonometric formulae.
Level II Courses
MTH 2301: Mathematical Methods (Calculus II) (3 Credits Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 1302, 1303
Real-valued functions of a real variable. Differentiation and Integration of vector functions with respect to
scalar variables. Taylor series. Real-valued functions of two or three variables. Partial derivatives; Chain
rule, extrema, Lagrange's multipliers. Increments, differentials and linear approximations, Line integrals,
Multiple integrals, Infinite Sequences and Series. Tests of convergence.
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MTH 2203: Linear Algebra I (2 Credits Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 1301, 1302
Core-requisite: MTH 2213, 2214
Matrices: Theory and Algebra; Systems of Linear Equations; Vector Spaces over the real field: Subspaces,
Linear Combination, Linear Dependence/Independence, Basis and Dimension.
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STA 2212: Probability III (2 Credit Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 1301, STA 1311. Core-requisite: STA 2211.
Bivariate, marginal and conditional distributions and moments. Convolution of two distributions, the central
limit theorem, and its uses.
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principle; Rouche's theorem. The fundamental theorem of algebra. Analytic continuation. Multiple valued
functions and Riemann surfaces.
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space; Tangent Vectors; Directional Derivatives; curves; 1-form differential forms and mappings;
diheomorphisms.
Level IV Courses
MTH 4301: Differential Equations III (3 Credit Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 3308.
Differential equations: existence and uniqueness theorems dependence of solution on initial data and
parameters. Properties of solutions. Sturm separations and comparison theorems. Linear and non-linear
systems of equations. Integral equations: classification, volterra and fredlhom types Neumann series.
Fredholm alternative for degenerate Hilbert- Schmidt kernels. Reduction of ordinary differential equations
to integral equations. Applications of Fourier transform and Laplace transform to linear integral equations.
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MTH 4304: General Topology (3 Credit Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 3306, 2307.
Topological spaces, defining open and closed sets; neighborhoods. Coarse and finer topologies. Basis and
sub-basis. Separation axioms. Compactness, local compactness. Connectedness. Construction of new
topological spaces from given ones, Sub-spaces, product spaces quotient spaces. Continuous functions;
Point-wise and uniform convergence.
Introduction to Latex; Structure of Latex document and commands; Characters in Latex; text, sectioning,
titles footnotes and marginal notes; Environments, poetry, lists and tabular data; Cross references and simple
bibliographies; Defining new commands and changing fonts; simple diagrams in LaTeX; Mathematical
aspects; inserting figures, graphs, pictures; Power point presentation using latex.
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MTH 4313: Lebesgue Measure and Integration (3 Credit Units)
Pre-requisite: MTH 3310.
Core-requisite: MTH 4303.
Outer measure, measurable sets and Lebesgue measure. Examples of a non-measurable set. Measurable
functions. The Lebesgue integral. Functions of bounded variation. Lp spaces. Holder and Minikowski
inequalities. Convergence and completeness. Bounded linear functional on Lp spaces.
A degree in Mathematics does not train students for a specific job. Rather it gives them a range of skills
which gives them the opportunity to enter a wide range of careers. It is therefore a versatile qualification.
Employers tend to be keen on Mathematics students because they are regarded as logical, numerate and
committed. All of these are highly sought-after skills in the jobs market. In short a mathematics graduate can
fit into everything from computer programming to accountancy, and biomedical research to business
management.
Majority of all jobs requiring graduates are open to students of any discipline. Of course, mathematicians are
eligible for these jobs. In addition, there are careers for which a degree in mathematics is either essential or a
strong advantage. These fall into a number of general areas:
1. Computing
Mathematicians are in high demand from software companies. If you can prove you can program,
you are likely to be in as strong a position as a computer science or IT graduate when applying for
roles with these organisations.
2. Financial work
In recent years, many mathematics graduates have taken up a career in finance.
a. Accountancy
Firms of chartered accountants - the main employers - do not normally specify degree
disciplines of entrants. They are particularly keen though to recruit mathematics graduates,
because of their numeracy skills and logical thought, because they are normally very
successful in the professional examinations. So to become an accountant, you do not need to
take a degree in accountancy. A mathematics degree allows many openings in accountancy,
should you wish to follow them after graduation, as well as all the other opportunities.
b. Actuarial work
This has long been a popular field for mathematics graduates. The work involves the
application of probability and statistics to financial affairs such as life assurance, pensions
and social security.
c. Other openings in finance
There are some opportunities in banking, particularly with the head offices of major banks, or
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with merchant banks. Mathematicians have frequently been successful candidates for the Tax
Inspectorate.
3. Postgraduate Study: A sizeable proportion of graduates choose to continue for higher qualifications
such as MSc and PhD before entering the job market. A good honours degree is normally required for
entry to such courses. The course provides training in the fundamental processes of research and so is
particularly useful for those aiming to work in industrial research and academic environments.
4. Scientific research, design and development: Large companies and government research
establishments are actively involved in research and development. They employ mathematicians and
statisticians, usually along with other scientists in interdisciplinary research teams. The problems being
solved require a flexible approach and speedy solutions. Projects of this type require high mathematical
skill, ability to analyse complex problems in order to formulate them mathematically and to use
computers in their solution (a skill developed during mathematics degree courses), willingness to work to
deadlines, and ability to communicate findings to others.
5. Aircraft Industry: In the aircraft industry, there is work on aerodynamical design, providing theoretical
results which predict or complement those from (for example) experimental wind tunnels.
6. Pollution Control
In pollution control, mathematicians would develop ``models'' (Mathematical equations) predicting
dispersal rates of chimney effluents under different meteorological conditions.
7. Statistical work: Statistical work is carried out in many organisations - the Civil Service (economics and
agriculture in particular), research establishments, large industrial firms and market research agencies. The
work involves analyses and interpretations of data, collection of information and analysing it using
statistical methods and computer programs such as SPSS.
8. Telecommunications: In telecommunications, Mathematicians may work on improved
communications links, computer-recognition of handwriting and speech patterns, and distortion in digital
transmission.
9. Biometrists: A Biometrists work as statisticians in the pharmaceutical industry, as researchers in
medical schools and hospitals and in agricultural institutes.
10. Management services: The problems of coping with rapid changes in technology and market
conditions in large and complex organisations make it essential for managers to call on specialist
services. Management services are often mathematical, involving an area of Mathematics known as
Operational Research. It might involve designing a more efficient transportation programme for
deliveries to a supermarket chain, warehouses, or a stock control pattern for a car franchise holder.
11. Forecasting: Maths graduates can also put their skills to good use in planning and forecasting of
various sorts, such as meteorology, logistics or transport planning, as well as careers such as quantity
surveying and IT.
12. Epidemiologist: Developing and using mathematical models to reduce public health risks by
studying the pattern of spread of diseases or health risks in populations.
Finally, there are many people with Mathematics training working in NNPC, plant biology, finance,
energy, defence, computer game design etc. In short the possibilities for mathematicians are
endless.
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PART B
B.Sc. Statistics
Philosophy of the Programme
The overall aim is to produce world-class Statisticians that will help in realization of national needs and
aspirations vis- a-vis educational, industrial and technological developments.
Admission Requirements
Level I
The entry requirements shall be at least credit level passes in five subjects including, English Language,
Mathematics, Physics and any two of the following: Chemistry, Biology/Agric. Science and Geography at
the Senior Secondary School Certificate or its equivalent. Any other qualification deemed appropriate by the
university.
Level II
Candidates with A level pass in any of the following qualifications are eligible for admission:
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Regulations:
The concurrent General Regulations of the University and the Regulations of the Faculty of Physical
Science apply. In addition to such regulations, the following regulations also apply for the B.Sc. Statistics
Programme:
i. In addition to the compulsory Statistics courses, every Level I Statistics student takes Mathematics
and one of Physics, Chemistry or Biology among his/her two subsidiary courses.
ii. Every Level I student is to take the Level I General Studies courses: GSP 1201: Use of English and
GSP 1202: Use of Library, Study Skills and ICT offered by the School of General and
Entrepreneurship Studies, while Level II students are to take the Level II GSE courses open to
science students: GSP 2204: Foundation of Nigerian Culture, Government and Economy, GSP
2205: Philosophy and Logic and GSP 2206: Peace and Conflict Resolution. In addition, all Direct
Entry students should register GSP 2201: Use of English and GSP 1202: Use of Library, Study
Skills and ICT. Level III students are to take: EEP3201: Entrepreneurship and Innovation,
while Level IV students are to register EEP 4201: Venture Creation and Growth.
iii. Unless the contrary is stated, all Statistics courses are core courses. All GSP courses are also core
courses.
iv. The minimum duration of the programme is four (4) academic sessions for UTME students (three
(3) for DE students) and the maximum is six (6) academic sessions for UTME students (five (5)
for DE students). Where a student fails to satisfy the minimum graduation requirement after
exhausting the maximum time, he/she will be withdrawn from the programme.
v. To qualify for the award of BSc degree in Statistics, a UTME student must pass all core courses and
obtain at least 32, 35, 32 and 39 credits each from Level I, II, III and IV courses respectively (and
35, 32 and 39 credits each from Level II, III and IV courses respectively for DE students). This is in
addition to the normal University Requirement of obtaining a minimum of 30 credits per level.
The Current Summary of the Minimum Requirement for Graduation is as follows:
LEVEL I 20 02 04 06 32
LEVEL II 24 05 06 - 35
LEVEL III 32 - - - 32
LEVEL IV 35 - 04 - 39
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List of Courses
Level II Courses
20
Level IV Courses
The Syllabi
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STA 1221: Statistical Inference I
Pre-requisite: None
Core-requisite: STA1412
Population and samples. Random sampling distributions, estimation (Point and interval) and Tests of
hypotheses concerning population mean and proportion (one and two large sample cases). Regression and
correlation. Elementary time series analysis.
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STA 3312: Distribution Theory
Pre-requisite: STA2211, 2212
Distribution and frequency functions. Documents, cumulants and their generating functions. Some special
univariate distribution. Laws of large numbers. Central limit theorem. Distribution: Stochastic
independence. Bivariate moment generating functions of random variable. Bivariate distribution: Stochastic
independence. Bivariate moment generating functions. Bivariate normal distributions. Distribution
associated with the normal, 𝑋 2 , t and F distribution.
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STA 3351: Biometric Methods I
Introduction to population genetics. Statistical methods in Biology. Sampling and estimating biological
populations. Design and analysis of biological experiments. Design and analysis of clinical trials Bioassays:
types and nature. Direct and indirect assays: Parallel line assays, slope ratio assays.
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science. Principles of decision making. Utility functions and their properties. Role of uncertainty. Bayes
Strategies. Problems of prior and posterior distributions: value of prior information Minimax strategies.
Statistical inference. Theory of games.
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Types of reliability co-efficient and their estimation. Some test theory for equivalent measurements. Item,
sampling in test theory and in research design.
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Examinations and Assessments
All courses are examined at the end of the semester and examinations are set by the course lecturers. All
question papers are moderated internally and then externally. Examinations are conducted in conjunction
with the faculty examinations office. Students are assessed by combination of class test, assignments or its
equivalent and end of semester examinations. Semester grade point average (GPA) and cumulative grade
point averages (CGPA) appear on each student semester/session report form and also the final academic
record (transcript). Below we illustrates how the GPA and CGPA are calculated.
Grading system
The University adopts the following grading system:
To calculate a student's GPA, the score for each course is first converted to grade (see table 3.3). The credit
value for each course is then multiplied by the corresponding grade point to get the weighted grade point
(WGP) for that course.
The sum of the WGP for all the courses is then divided by the sum of the Credits for all courses to get the
GPA. Table 3.4 gives an illustrative example for Garba a 100 Level student.
WEIGTED
COURSE CREDIT SCORE GRADE
GRADE GRADE
CODE VALUE (%) POINT
POINT
MTH 1301 3 90 A 5 15
STA 1311 3 72 A 5 15
CSC 1201 2 48 D 2 4
CHM 1201 2 43 E 1 2
BIO 1201 2 51 C 3 6
GSP 1401 4 40 E 1 4
PHY 1101 1 31 F 0 0
TOTAL 17 46
GPA = 46/17=2.71
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Assuming that in the second semester Garba obtained the results tabulated as demonstrated in the table
below
MTH 1304 3 63 B 4 12
MTH 1302 3 78 A 5 15
CHM 1202 2 45 D 2 4
CHM 1204 2 23 F 0 0
BIO 1204 2 57 C 3 6
PHY 1202 2 64 B 4 8
TOTAL 14 45
Academic Probation
Any student whose CGPA is below 1.00 in a given session, is said to be in academic probation. He/She will
be given one more session to make it up above 1.00 otherwise the student is to be withdrawn.
Degree classification
Degrees are classified based on the CGPA at the point of graduation, as describe in the table below:
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Appendices
A: Teaching Staff
B: Non-Teaching Staff
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S/N Name Rank Qualification
1. Zubairu H. Danjuma Senior Programmer HND Computer Science
2. Usman M. Madaki Principal Comp. Operator B.Sc. Computer Science
3. Laraba Yakubu Senior Comp. Operator ND Computer Science
4. Ahmad S. Adamu Asst. Exec. Off. OND English/Hausa
5. Auwalu Sani Head Cleaner/Messenger WAEC Certificate
6. Sani H. Yahaya Head Cleaner/Messenger WAEC Certificate
Appendix A2: Departmental Responsibilities (2018/2019 Session)
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